Joel Forrester & People Like Us - Ever Wonder Why (2004)

Joel Forrester & People Like Us consistently deliver a quirky form of bop with a sound that is immediately identifiable. The pianist is accompanied by longtime collaborators Claire Daly (baritone sax) and David Hofstra (bass), with Ronnie Johnson replacing the late Denis Charles on drums. As usual, the music consists of Forrester's catchy originals. The swinging title track was actually inspired by Walter Donaldson's "Little White Lies," featuring superb solos all around. The loping "Bebop Cowpoke" has a jaunty country flavor at times but remains a perky jazz vehicle (one could almost imagine the pianist Jaki Byard having some fun with it). The bluesy "Bunny Boy" initially suggests an overly hip wannabe tough guy strutting down a city street. "Serenade" (which honors a long defunct Manhattan nightclub) is a somewhat wistful ballad that has its humorous moments. "Blue Mary Lou" is an obvious salute to the great pianist/composer Mary Lou Williams, a dark bluesy number that is full of rich textures similar to those that she wove into her works, in which Daly steals the show with a melodic solo worthy of Gerry Mulligan. The deliberately distorted photographs add to the attractive quirkiness of this highly recommended CD.