Album Review: The Door Is Open: The Music of Gregg Hill from Randy Napoleon

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Album:  The Door is Open: The Music of Gregg Hill
Artist:  Randy Napoleon
Label:  OA2 Records
Label Website:  originarts.com/oa2
Artist Website:  randynapoleon.com

A fusion of minds, The Door Is Open:  The Music of Gregg Hill from guitarist and leader Randy Napoleon is his second record with the core band of pianist Rick Roe, bassist Rodney Whitaker, drummer Quincey Davis, and vocalist Aubrey Johnson.  Adding to the mix are Lucas LaFave on bass, Anthony Stanco on trumpet, Walter Blanding on tenor saxophone, and Andrew Kim on trombone.

Integrating blues, bebop, and soul, Napoleon's arrangements have an organic fluidity, culminating into animated passages.  Johnson's scatting and vivacious vocalese have tracks like "Spa-Teneity" and "Motel Blues" ensnare the listener, struck by Napoleon's piercing strings and Davis's rippling drumbeats.  The cool jazz vibe of the tracks imbue a contemporary peal.

The bluesy tint of Napoleon's guitar chords and the soulful glint in Roe's keys ruminating along "April Song" project a pensive mood.  Jumping into a high flying bebop romp through "The Last Pop Tune," Roe's keys add a percolating thrust into the mix as the rhythm section sets the arrangement ablaze with a vibrant pumping. Stanco's trumpet, Blanding's saxophone, and Kim's trombone flash intermittently across "Triple Play," like bursts of fireworks dotting the melodic course and fomenting a wild adventure for the listener.

Napoleon's soundscapes provide listeners with a continually changing adventure, bringing out the diversity of their conversations and ways of harmonizing.  The compositions are true collaborations, spotlighting each voice while commingling the personalities to make an agreeable alliance.  Their unity reaches and includes the listener as well.

Musicians:
Randy Napoleon - guitar
Aubrey Johnson - vocals
Rick Roe - piano
Quincy Davis - drums
Rodney Whitaker - bass
Lucas LaFave - bass
Anthony Stanco - trumpet
Walter Blanding - tenor saxophone
Andrew Kim - trombone


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