JOE KENNEDY WITH THE DAVID HUGHES QUARTET

TIME TRAVEL

Chicken Coup Records

Joe Kennedy, piano/organ/composer; Scott Graham, double bass; Robert Keding, drums; David Hughes, tenor, alto, & baritone saxophones/flute; Tom Cunningham, trumpet/flugelhorn. 

Joe Kennedy has written the first three songs on this album of great music featuring the David Hughes Quartet.  They open with the swinging “Tony’s Turnaround,” Kennedy’s original tune. The horns play the infectious melody, until Scott Graham enters, soloing on his double bass and grabbing this listener’s attention.  David Hughes is a California native who studied saxophone with Bill Greene.  He steps forward next, to take a mesmerizing solo that lifts this arrangement, followed by Tom Cunningham on trumpet.  Cunningham studied his instrument with the great Bobby Shew and played in concerts with Allen Vizzutti, Rich Matteson, Don Menza and Ramsey Lewis.

Kennedy also penned the title tune “Time Travel.” It’s a jazzy waltz, with tricky time changes, as well as the third song, “Mineshaft” that swings unapologetically.  This time he infuses the swinging arrangement with his organ brilliance.  Joe Kennedy has composed music for various instruments for many years and performed with a long list of iconic figures including Lou Donaldson, Chet Baker, Dewey Redman, Ritchie Cole and Etta James. His master’s degree was attained at USC, where he studied piano and composition with Shelly Berg. More recently he has added the Hammond B3 organ to his portfolio, studying with the great Tony Monaco. There are very few things I love more than a swinging jazz organ ensemble.  Joe Kennedy and the David Hughes Quartet offer us that awesome musical experience.

Tom Cunningham’s trumpet caresses the “Nature Boy” standard with tenderness.  On this arrangement, David Hughes plays flute, while Robert Keding adds his Latin drum flavor to the spicy arrangement.  Another standard this group covers is “Laura,” that has the feel of a big band arrangement, with Cunningham and Hughes harmonizing and weaving in and out of each musical phrase like three conversations taking place, that includes the trumpet, the saxophone and Joe Kennedy’s creative piano.

Another favorite is “Mr. Squiggley’s Wild Ride,” an original composition by Kennedy, that reminds me of New Orleans music.  David Hughes pulls out his baritone saxophone for this arrangement and he sounds amazing. He played baritone sax in the Buddy Rich band for two years. Also, Hughes has played with Ritchie Cole and the brilliant pianist, Michel Petrucciani.

“Birdseed” is another ‘swinger’ and the ensemble closes this album with “Dance for Dorsch.”  It opens with Kennedy on piano setting the mood and tone of the song in a ¾ tempo.  This is music for jazz lovers, mostly original compositions by Joe Kennedy, with all the arrangements also by the pianist. You will be thoroughly entertained by this seasoned quintet.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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