Album Review: Up And Gone from The Moore-McColl Jazz Society

Album:  Up and Gone
Artist: The Moore-McColl Jazz Society
Label: Madison Records
Website: www.mooremccolljazz.com

In the vane of jazz fusion combos like Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and Sly and the Family Stone, the music of The Moore-McColl Jazz Society has a jam session vibe, acting as a conduit of the present phase of bluesy, grooving, strutting, cool jazz along the time continuum.   As time moves forward, so too does the music of The Moore-McColl Jazz Society.  Comprised of Beth Moore (vocals, piano, Rhodes, and organ) and Chance McColl (electric guitar and vocals), the duo exhibit a bond that enthralls the listener.  Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the pair's third recording Up and Gone fuses a modern panoply of blues, funk, and contemporary hues of jazz.

The opening track, “What’s Still Happening!!” has a ‘70s-inspired buoyancy, accentuated by the lobbing arcs of the alto saxophone and the gritty blues features of McColl's guitar riffs.  Moore's groaning Rhodes seals a cool jazz tint in the sonic passages.  The track is followed by “Somebody Calling,” a cover of Robin Trower’s song, showcasing the duo's agility to fuse contemporary elements into the jam session jazz mixture like overdubbed guitars using a Univibe along with a talkbox, which gives the music a psychedelic shimmer that includes the echoey tone of McColl's vocals.

The title track, “Up and Gone” has a TV theme song feel reminiscent of ‘70s cop shows with car sirens opening the piece.  The grooving quivers in Moore's B-3 organ suspend the strutting trumpet solo played by Caleb Lattimore as McColl's guitar weaves pulsating tremors.  In contrast, “Sunlit Flower (Against the Sky)” is sparsely layered in the caressing motion of Moore's vocals and the breezy strokes of McColl's guitar strumming.  It's a mollifying and reflective melody that transports listeners to a blissful plane.

A meaningful tribute to McColl's hometown, “Back to Atlanta” coalesces smokey blues with after hours jazz swells as solos on the alto sax and trumpet wail with the passion of liberated voices, creating laid back and uplifting tunage.  “A Song for Vince” is a nod to the legendary pianist Vince Guaraldi, integrating Latin trimmings with the whirling sensations of Moore's organ.  

The present phase of bluesy, grooving, strutting, cool jazz is depicted in  “Sojourn in A Minor," spotlighting Randy Hunter's emotionally charged musings on the alto sax and Justin Powell's eloquent storytelling on the trumpet.  “No Apology” partners McColl's funky guitar riff and his R&B-imbued vocals with beefy grooves, producing an ample banquet of jazz fusion.

Up and Gone is proof of the enduring allure of bluesy, grooving, strutting, cool jazz fusion.  This is music for both adult contemporary audiences and after hours circles.  Soaked in ‘70s style funk and jazz influences, The Moore-McColl Jazz Society's latest recording invites audiences to a freeing atmosphere that lifts their mood and their spirits.

Musicians:
Beth Moore - vocals, keys, Fender Rhodes, and Hammond B3 organ
Chance McColl - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals
Tim Aucoin - acoustic, electric bass
Joel Morris - drums, percussion
Randy Hunter - alto saxophone
Caleb Lattimore - trumpet
Justin Powell - trumpet
Declan Ward - alto saxophone