Ray is a drummer who played the music on this CD as a kind of "contest".... playing against/with guitarist Rodney Jones, bassist Lonnie Plaxico & tenor saxophonist Teodross Avery, they go "nine rounds" (IOW, 9 tracks). Like any good match, this is for the pleasure of the listener, & there's plenty of good vibe to be gleaned from their improvisations. For one thing, it has a truly "original" feel, as you might expect! Marchica's drums clearly show high energy & diverse talent, as do all the other players... there's plenty of styles evident... stone-funky, jubilant jazz & fantastic fusion. From th' phunk perspective, I'm a big fan of track 3, "Tequila"... heck, it's really my favorite on the album, I'd say. This is one of the "hippest" jazz CD's we've reviewed yet this year, & gets our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating. It just hit the streets/stores on the 7th of June, 2005, so you'd better rush right on out & GRAB this one, 'specially if you're an aspiring jazz drummer. I like it a lot, & it will stay in the "KEEPER" stack! To get more information, or purchase the CD, visit the SONS OF SOUND site.

— Dick Metcalf, aka Rotcod Zzaj
June 2005 Issue #73
© Improvijazzation Nation