Tobia Gebb and Unit 7
March 5, 2010 / No Comments
Free At Last
(Yummyhouse)
Free At Last, the latest from drummer and composer Tobias Gebb, blends a first class roster of musicians with an energetic mix of originals and classics to great creative effect. For example, it’s not often that you hear a sitar (performed by Neel Murgai) in a jazz context, as is the case on his swinging, James Bond-ish arrangement of Lennon and McCartney’s “Tomorrow Never Knows”. There are equally clever renditions of “You Don’t Know What Love Is” and “Softly As In A Morning Contemplation”. Gebbs own pieces leans towards the upbeat as heard on “Spitball” and “Blues For Drazen”, with “My Love” and the title track (dedicated to Barack Obama) on the more mellow side. Besides Gebbs stellar drumwork and writing, one can’t help but take note of the tight sound of the horn section. With the seasoned talents of Bobby Watson, Ron Blake, Joel Frahm and Stacy Dillard on saxophone, as well Joe Magnarelli on trumpet and flugelhorn, it can’t help but be great. They join Ugonna Okegwo and Neal Miner on basses, along with Eldad Zvulun on piano. The combination of all these elements makes Free At Last, a quality listening experience.
Click here to listen to a clip of “Spitball”.
Tracks: Blues For Drazen, My Love, Spitball, You Don’t Know What Love Is, Bop Be Dop, Free At Last, Softly As In A Morning Contemplation, Tomorrow Never Knows.
