CELLAR MUSIC (RELEASED MARCH 21, 2025)
Jon Bentley’s Go Ahead! took me back in time; a time when the jazz section of record stores and the catalogues of record companies added a new category to their offerings — soul jazz. Although he was born at the tail end of that trend, this is the music Vancouver-based tenor saxophonist Jon Bentley embraces on Go Ahead! The common denominator between five originals and compositions from Wayne Shorter, Brad Mehldau, Duke Ellington and Paul Simon is the straight ahead and swinging style that defined soul jazz. It’s the soulful sound of Bentley’s sax, the bluesy guitar of Tristan Paxton, the trills and thrills of organist Chris Gestrin and the strong and steady rhythms of drummer Joe Poole. The set has all the markings of classic soul jazz records. It starts with the Latin-infused boogaloo sound of Bentley’s “Balcony Jogger,” with “in the soul jazz tradition” solos from all. The quartet gives a pop tune feel to Brad Mehldau’s “Don’t Be Sad” that showcases Paxton’s exuberant playing. Paul Simon’s “Still Crazy After All These Years” is delivered as a classic soul jazz ballad, while Duke Ellington’s “The Feeling of Jazz” gets the classic slow blues treatment. Bentley’s originals, which range from the march like rhythm of “Go Ahead” to the up-tempo swagger of “Trane’s Terrain” are pure soul jazz. Like other recent Cellar Jazz label releases, Jon Bentley’s Go Ahead !will not change the trajectory of jazz, but it will transport you to the soulful, bluesy, funky, straight ahead and swinging sounds of soul jazz. Enjoy the trip!
BOTTOM LINE: If Go Ahead! came out during the heyday of soul jazz, it would just be one more generic soul jazz release. The fact that Jon Bentley and his quartet have captured that sound in 2025 with a combination of original compositions and works from Wayne Shorter, Brad Mehldau, Paul Simon and Duke Ellington makes Go Ahead! special.
PAPATAMUS REDUX 
Leave a comment