BRUCE GERTZ QUINTET

OCTOPUS DREAMS

Open Mind Jazz Records

Bruce Gertz, composer/bass; Gison Schachnik, piano; Gary Fieldman, drums; Rick DiMuzio, tenor saxophone; Phil Grenadier, trumpet/flugelhorn.

Bruce Gertz has been the Professor of Bass at Berklee College of Music since 1976.  He has written six books and is contributing editor to Bass World Magazine. Gertz has recorded over twenty albums as a band leader.   All the compositions on this album are penned by Bruce Gertz, and his quintet skillfully interprets each one.

They start with a straight-ahead tune called “Power Walk.”  The horns are dissonant throughout, but it is not annoying or hard on the ears.  Instead, they create a wonderful ambience of texture and harmonics that grab my attention and pull me into the piece.  The chord structure is actually based on the jazz standard, “Jada” mixed with the Sonny Rollins’ tune “Doxy.”   Gertz, Phil Grenadier on trumpet and Rick DiMuzio on tenor saxophone, each gift us with dazzling solos.  I love the tone of the Gertz bass. He is the first soloist to step into the spotlight.  His fingers dance over the strings without compunction.

The title tune follows.  “Octopus Dreams” is a somewhat moody ballad, with the Gertz bass dancing beneath the slow groove with purpose and melodic structure that adds beauty to this tune.  Gary Fieldman’s drums push the tune forward, with an almost Latin beat.  Pianist Gison Schachnik takes a memorable solo. Then Gertz steps stage center with a brief, but wonderful bass improvisation.

As a performer, Bruce Gertz has offered his awesome bass talents to the stages and studios of Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Dave Brubeck, Gary Burton, John Abercrombie, Gil Evans, Jon Hendricks, Joe Lovano, Larry Coryell and so many more.  His mastery of the bass instrument can always be relied upon to uplift and enhance the music.

His bass solo on Track #3, “Sea Worthy” is exquisite and solid.  The tenor saxophone of Rick DiMuzio slides in after the Gertz solo and weaves his own magic spell into the arrangement.

I found every tune on this album to be both engaging, well-played and beautifully arranged.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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