Michael O'Neil Quintet with Tony Lindsay Pacific Standard Time

Michael O'Neill Quintet with Tony Lindsay
Pacific Standard Time
Jazzmo Records

"Pacific Standard Time" is a fascinating new album of vocal jazz by former Santana vocalist Lindsay backed by Michael O'Neill's Quintet. The members of the quintet are O'Neil on tenor sax, bass clarinet, clarinet and flute: Erik Jekabson on trumpet and flugelhorn; John R. Burr on piano; Dan Feiszli on bass; and Alan Hall on drums. Mile Olmos replaces Jekabson on two selections and Omar Ledezma is on percussion on three selections. This is a longstanding group, with O'Neill, Feiszli and Hall being together since the group formed, with Burr joining in 2006 and Jekabson coming aboard in 2011. This is the quintet's fourth album, but not the first with a vocalist as Kenny Washington was featured on their earlier recordings.

As suggested by the title, this is a collection of standards with the members providing arrangements to give a different flavor to these familiar numbers. This is evident with the opening "Just Friends" in which drummer Hall provided the setting in which Lindsay quickly establishes his vocal presence is no novelty. he brings warmth along with a flexibility in phrasing and his dynamics set against the quintet's wonderful backing and solos. I am not familiar with Sting's original of "Fragile," but Lindsay is quite at home from his years as part of Santana with the the leader's Latin jazz setting. Jekabson's brass solo is spirited and lyrical and followed by the leader's robust improvisation and Burr's fluid piano solo. 

On "Summertime," O'Neill's arrangement makes it into almost a suite with three movements with changes in tempo and groove starting as a lament before a funky groove kicks in with O'Neill tearing it up on his solo. Jekabson provided a 12/8 tinge for Lindsay's soulful vocal on Hoagy Carmichael's "Georgia," with more sterling accompaniment. There is pianist Burr's reharmonization of Hart & Rodgers' "The Way You Look Tonight," along with the leader's reworking of Monk's "Rhythm-a-ning," with Lindsay's horn like singing of Jon Hendricks' lyrics and terrific tenor sax and trumpet solos.

 Lindsay is superb whether with exquisite ballad singing on "Come Rain or Shine," or his relaxed delivery on "Night and Day" against a lively groove. Then there is the closing ballad, "You Don't Know What Love Is," with Feiszli's inspired arrangement employing O'Neill's woody bass clarinet and Jekabson's muted trumpet. O'Neill's plays a wonderful bass clarinet solo while Lindsay sings so fervently here.  With Lindsay's first-rate vocals and the superb backing and solos from O'Neill and band, "Pacific Standard Time" is terrific.

I received my review copy from a publicist.