ANTHONY CACERES

LET’S TAKE A TRIP

Jig in G

Anthony Caceres, vocals/double bass/composer/producer; Tamir Hendelman, piano/co-producer; Jostein Gulbrandsen, guitar; Joe Farnsworth, drums.

Anthony Caceres is a jazz vocalist, bassist and bandleader blessed with three wonderful talents rolled into one. As soon as I heard the swift tempo and assertive vocals of Caceres on “What A Little Moonlight Can Do,” I came to attention!  Equally confident singing and accompanying himself on the double bass, Caceres has a tone and sound all his own, plus he can swing!

“Elevators and Escalators” is a lyrical trip to the mall that Anthony Cacere celebrates as another day to spend with his wife, away from the kids, the bills and life’s constant list of commitments. This arrangement has a smooth Latin groove, with a taste of mid-tempo swing that Joe Farnsworth puts into place on his trap drums.

Not only can this bass musician sing and swing, Caceres is also an impressive composer.  He has written “Elevators and Escalators,” and penned the title tune, “Let’s Take a Trip.” It’s another swinger with positive, strong lyrics. His band is on fire.  Each of the three other talented musicians take an impressive solo during this title tune arrangement.

“Sebastian’s Waltz” is another original.  The quartet performs it as an instrumental. Tamir Hendelman shines on piano.

Based in Houston, Caceres maintains a long-standing residency at Eddie V’s Prime Seafood establishment.  He earned his degree at the University of North Texas, in Jazz Studies, after serving four-years in the United States Navy.

Anthony Caceres comes from a musical family.  His grandfather was violinist Emilio Caceres, who performed with Jack Teagarden and Harry James. Emilio appeared on Benny Goodman’s “Camel Caravan” radio program in 1937.  Anthony’s great-uncle, Ernie Caceres, was a pioneering baritone saxophonist associated with Eddie Condon and the original Glenn Miller Orchestra. In fact, years later, Anthony Caceres himself would tour internationally as the bass player with Glenn Miller’s Orchestra.

On the ‘cover’ tune and familiar standard, “Stolen Moments” Anthony Caceres changed the lyrics, adding a story of his own from the perspective of a musician and voicing his feelings about the sometimes non-supportive audience members. Jostein Gulbrandsen adds a brief guitar solo, trading fours with Tamir Hendelman on piano. Throughout this album, I am struck by the power and creativity Gulbrandsen adds to this production on guitar. Caceres takes a bass solo to show us how solid and wonderful the bass side of his musical talent can be. His quartet is formidable.

They close with “I Just Dropped by to Say Hello” a gem of a standard with a fabulous lyric that tells a story that touches the heart. Not only can Anthony Caceres sing, play bass, compose and produce a record, he can sell a song.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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