Meet Reviewer Damian Erskine ~

Ryan Keberle

“Heavy Dreaming”

(www.ryankeberle.com)

Admittedly, I had yet to hear trombonist Ryan Keberle prior to receiving this album for potential review.  I can tell you, tho, about 30 seconds into the first track, I knew that I wanted to listen all of the way through and tell you all about it.

He calls this group The “Double Quartet”.  The first being the quartet featuring Bass, drums, piano and himself.  The 2nd quartet being that of an additional trombone with trumpet, french horn and Tuba.  The result is the beautifully melded combination of a stellar jazz quartet with some full and lush horn arrangements.  This lineup combined with his beautiful writing and great arrangements has led to an album with a wonderful balance of listenability and complexity.

Though Ryan hails from Spokane, WA, his music has both the aggressive approach of the NY “young guns” (where he now resides) and the artist integrity of the European “masters”.

This music is fluid, beautiful and swings hard.  Jazz lovers can’t go wrong with The Ryan Keberle Double Quartet!