[CD] BEST OF MAPLESHADE VOL.3: Jazz Grooves (Mapleshade)

From the opening brass-and-conga invocation of A La Carte’s rousing version of the Lee Morgan classic “Sidewinder” to the closing drum-roll of Thurman Green’s “Struttin’ With Some Barbeque”, Best Of Mapleshade Vol.3 is fifty-seven minutes of in-the-pocket jazz grooves. And the sonics deliver the live excitement of these on-fire musicians. Tempos move from blazing to stomping to sultry, then back again. Styles range from bebop and big band to Latin and touches of fusion. Each track is anchored in an irresistibly rhythmic groove— and more walking bass lines than you can shake a stick at. We’ve included some of my very favorite cookers by Clifford Jordan, Larry Willis, Norris Turney, Jack Jeffers, and many more. If these swinging beats don’t get your foot tappin’, better check your pulse.