The Reese Project - Eastern Standard Time (2021)

The Reese Project has a signature sound, based on the extrapolations of flute player Tom Reese, cellist Laurie Reese, and guitarist Bobby Brewer. These three competent and capable jazz musicians play a good deal of straight-ahead jazz with Latin underpinnings, adapting standards and adding quite a bit of original blues-based swingers to their repertoire. While not groundbreaking or particularly innovative, the band gets the job done in a pleasing, mellow tone that should appeal to most mainstream jazz listeners. Drummer Aaron Walker keeps the beat in check, while guest hand percussionist Johnny Acevedo holds sway with rhythms that spice up these proceedings. Reese -- the flutist -- has a tendency to extend melody lines past their established parameters, as if he has a more imaginative way to express them. He uses a lot of vibrato and busy note clusters, as on a version of "Alone Together," a churned, buttery take of "Meditation," and the cooking "Black Orpheus." In tandem with the well-heeled guitarist Brewer, Reese's flute works well on a bop/Latin amalgam "Heads Up & Gone," the basic groove biscuit "Somethin's Brewin," or the straight swinging title selection. On the guitar driven "Out of Nowhere," Reese's flute is more rapidly and cleverly taking liberties with this tried-and-true line. Reese -- the cellist -- often plays syncopated bass figures, but is more of a bowing stringer as she takes hold of the front of the house during "Moment in Blue," which is quite reminiscent of "God Bless the Child," and really comes to the forefront on Walker's "Altoid Junkie," a bluesy swinger. Perhaps the single track that exhibits straigh-ahead tendencies with just a hint of abstract innovation, "Blue Dali" is a ballad that seems to need a break from convention, and succeeds. The other cut that is a bit unusual is the opener "Just Friends," as Reese the flutist establishes a repeat minimalist motif reminiscent of Phillip Glass before the piece settles into its familiar, solid-color clothing. As this is not the first recording for the Reese Project, it should come as no surprise how refined and professional the band is. More bold steps with original compositions should make them stand out even more upon future efforts. ~ Michael G. Nastos