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What do you get when you bring together four incredibly gifted musicians who have worked with the jazz scene’s most elite artists? In this case, it’s the recording debut of the Jeff Holmes Quartet, titled Of One’s Own.
On this record, a collection of original tunes and classics, listeners will quickly realize why this ensemble has worked with the best in the business. Pianist Jeff Holmes is a nationally published and commissioned composer/arranger. Bassist James Cammack played with Ahmad Jamal for 30 years. Steve Johns was always favored as Billy Taylor’s first-choice drummer. And finally, saxophonist Adam Kolker has collaborated with the likes of Ray Barretto and Maria Schneider. Therefore, it would be quite an understatement to say these four bring a lot of wisdom to the table.
But what’s incredible is that they sound as if they’ve been playing together forever on this album. Their laidback approach, infused with an eclectic mix of styles ranging from Latin grooves to gospel inflections, make Of One’s Own a must-have for traditional jazz enthusiasts. Even those who favor a more flamboyant sound (like myself) will still be delighted by upbeat tracks like “One For C.J.” and the swinging interpretation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “So Long, Farewell” from the The Sound of Music.
What kind of jazz style do you prefer? Will you be giving Jeff Holmes Quartet’s Of One’s Own a listen? We’d love to hear from you!