Tremendous material from bassist Putter Smith – a player you may not recognize, but one who's been making some beautiful music on the LA scene for decades! Putter's got a soulful, soaring vision that makes him a perfect choice for
Henry Franklin's Skipper label – and like Franklin's recent gems on that imprint, there's a quality here that takes us right back to the best indie soul jazz of the 70s – richly expressive material from a post-Coltrane era – with a vibe that's somewhere between Clifford Jordan on Strata East, and some of the hipper albums on Muse Records from the decade. Putter plays bass, but really manages to get some great horn help here, too – the alto of Jon Whinnery and tenor of John
Gross – beautifully intertwined, and stepping along the modally-influenced rhythms of the set – which are played by Smith on bass, Theo Saunders on piano, and Kendall Kay on drums. The album's got an understated cover, but a wonderfully rich sound – and it's one we've been spinning often at the Dusty Groove offices of late! Titles include "Larance", "Home", "Early Morning Mood", "For Us", "Love Song For Kirsi", "Tonggeret", and "The Blessing".
(Tray card has a crease.)