Midnight Brew

Album Review

This coolly titled disc may never be as famous as Miles Davis' jazz standard Bitches Brew, but it's a groove-happy, musical potpourri that could inspire more jazz musicians, in this day and age of formatting, to think about the artistic joys of diversity. "Swiss Cheese" is funky, brassy be-bop on which the pianist/leader defers to saxman Eric Marienthal and trumpeter Bobby Rodriguez for a long spell before his feisty solo section. Before he can continue the swinging jazz on "A Bop For Billy" (dedicated to Billy Higgins), Kahn goes Latin crazy on a sexy cover of Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry ‘Bout a Thing." Next it's time to go a little jazz-soul crazy on the thumping "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (more straightforward lines from Marienthal on this one) before the original punchy horn-driven Latin number "Otro Tur." Kahn's nimble soloing is a revelation, but he clearly has no trouble deferring to his better known cohorts, including singer Tierney Sutton and, most notably, Justo Almario, whose lush flute graces the breezy "Night Shadows" and the sashaying, straightahead cover of "Night and Day." He also includes tributes to the influences of Dave Brubeck and John Coltrane.Marienthal fans who miss his more adventurous "real jazz" playing will enjoy his exciting contributions here.