The Heredia trio are heard here supporting the trumpet soloist Benet Palet. He has a cool, soft focus sound in the Chet Baker tradition which works well with the piano trio on this album.
This is essentially a free-flowing, lightly swinging album set mostly at mid-tempo. The programme is standard tunes or jazz staples from people like Herb Geller, Hampton Hawes and Herbie Hancock.
The title tune is heard first, with the trumpeter in full lyrical mode, delivering his laid-back lines quietly, almost casually. Piano, bass and drums support with sturdy backing and Faber takes a rather more upbeat piano solo. The pianist introduces Emily and Palet shifts to flute. His lightweight but melodic lines are similar to his trumpet work.
Faber’s gently rolling chords introduce Dolphin Dance before Palet’s trumpet is heard in a similar, laid-back solo. The pianist returns with a sturdy solo that gives a fresh twist to the music. Her lines are percussive, inventive and strong, just what this music needs when it begins to get too light and frothy. Proving that she too can play it soft and pretty, Faber’s backing on Space A La Mode is just right. Gentle flute from Palet is effective on this slow ballad. An alternate take of this one is heard at the end of the session.
A lightweight session then, with plenty of melody and swing if with sameness of tempo throughout. A fast burn-up and a Latin piece might have livened things up a little.
Discography
How Deep Is The Ocean; Emily; Retrato Em Branco E Preto; Dolphin Dance; Space A La Mode; Sonora; Holiday Cheer; Speak Low; Space A La Mode (65.12)
Heredia (d); Benet Palet (t, f); Michele Faber (p); Curro Galvez (b). Spain, 15 October 2021.
Fresh Sound FSR CD 5124
