Brian Dickinson

Album Review

Dickinson is in fine form on this trio album of standards. A rather dominant musical personality, Dickinson steers the music in a direction that showcases his affinity for modern harmony, immediately evident on the very modally played "Alone Together." Bassist Kieran Overs understands Dickinson's direction, and provides suitable support. Dickinson pulls no punches, though, constantly prodding Overs off into new harmonic directions throughout, as is especially evident on the bass players' solo on Oscar Pettiford's "Blues in the Closet." Dickinson's playing throughout is inspired, often taking short melodic fragments and displacing them through different registers and keys to create tension. The track selection seems correctly suited to highlight Dickinson's passionate yet harmonically complex delivery, although a certain sameness does pervade the set. Drummer Jerry Fuller reads the situation correctly, and accompanies in a light yet aggressive manner.