Yotam Silberstein - Resonance (2010)

Yotam Silberstein's chops, taste, and good common sense within a modern mainstream jazz framework prove hard to resist, but placed in the company of a high-quality ensemble, is irresistible. With bassist Christian McBride, drummer Gregory Hutchinson, and pianist Aaron Goldberg, it's hard to find any fault with this group, especially if post-Kenny Burrell/Wes Montgomery post-bop is your thing. Yotam (he prefers to go only by his first name professionally) is a fleet single-line player for the most part, adding chords on occasion, and is as fluid a performer on his amplified instrument as you will find on the current scene. While very able to play those fast lines as demonstrated during the John Lewis evergreen "Two Bass Hit," the band digs into a deeper spectrum of dark blue on the hip, modal "Bye Y'all," or the softer bossa "The Most Beautiful Girl." Fond of the spiky angularity of Thelonious Monk, Yotam reinvents a "Blewz," and echoes John Coltrane's "Big Nick" during the quick samba "McDavid." The guitarist's Jewish heritage is not ignored on several of these tracks, but neither is the tradition of post-bop as represented in Clifford Brown's easygoing "Daahoud" or Joe Henderson's perky "Mamacita," both featuring top-drawer trumpeter Roy Hargrove. With a good amount of versatility and virtuosity, Yotam has produced a thoroughly professional product, easily embraceable for the general jazz public, and comes recommended.