Fred Randolph Mood Walk

Fred Randolph
Mood Walk
Creative Spirit Records

"Mood Walk" is the fourth album as a leader by bassist, composer, and leader Fred Randolph. He leads a quintet of some of the finest musicians in Northern California. In addition to Randolph's basses, his band includes Erik Jekabson on trumpet & flugelhorn, Sheldon Brown on tenor sax & flute, Greg Wyser-Pratte on drums, and Dan Zemelman on piano. Also heard on this album are Greg Sankovich on keyboards & organ, Silvestre Martinez on percussion, Brian Rice on percussion, and Dillon Vado on vibes.

There is plenty of variety in Randolph's compositions and the performances heard here. "On the Upside" was inspired by Clifford Brown, and the performance does conjure up the great Clifford Brown-Max Roach group with Jekabson and Brown evoking Brown and Harold Land. Randolph takes a solo here and displays his ability to drive the quintet as well as make a melodic statement. It sets the tone for this striking album. With Brown on flute and Vado on vibes, there is an airy quality to "Unaware." Randolph plays electric bass, and Sankovich organ and electric piano on "T-Bone Slide." Wyser-Pratte lays down a funky groove on a driving R&B flavored instrumental with riveting saxophone from Brown and some rubber band string-bending bass.

"Mood Walk" is an excellent bluesy swinger with a memorable theme and robust tenor sax, fiery trumpet, and an adept piano solo. It is followed by the relaxed rendition of Randolph's Latin-tinged "Knowing," with Jakabson's warm, melodious brass. "Mr. Now" is a brisk Coltrane inspired blues with standout solos from Zemelman and Brown. "Nouveau Monde" was inspired when Randolph heard a group from the Congo playing the Ndombolo rhythm. The leader and Wyser-Pratte lay down an irresistible, torrid rhythm with Brown's robust, heated sax.

There is an exquisite Latin flavored waltz, "Meadows" with Brown's melodious flute, before the exuberant "Funky N.O. Thing," built around a second-line groove. Jekabson is sterling with his trumpet figuratively dancing, while Brown adds his passionate tenor sax. Wyser-Pratte is particularly superb in propelling this performance while adding rhythmic accents. It closes an excellent recording. Fred Randolph is a terrific musician and composer, and with the first-rate musicians here, he has produced a fabulous album.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here Fred Randolph is performing "Funky N.O. Thing," from 2016