The title track on this fantastic CD is a very suave original composition written by piano man Billy Taylor. A Grand Night For Swinging sets the pace for a dynamic, intimate and intellectual interaction among five fine muscians. Guitarist Mundell Lowe's long-standing reputation for being a "tasteful" and "skillful" jazz musician shines through in this new CD release. Backing Lowe on this album are Bill Taylor on (piano) Les Grinage (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums), and Gene Quill (alto sax). You feel the syncopations, notice your head bopping to the bass, and raise your eyebrows while eavesdropping on vivid conversations between guitar and piano. Quill's sax playing is like a shot of liqueur in your coffee, melting smoothly into the groove, but with a flavour all its own. Filled with fun solos and great musicianship, this CD will keep your toes tapping and make you wish there were more than just seven tunes on the disk.
Mundell Lowe
