Posted on

John Barron reviews Jared Gold “All Wrapped Up”….

thejazzword.blogspot.com

New York-based organist Jared Gold leads a no-nonsense set of original progressive jazz compositions on All Wrapped Up, his fourth release for Posi Tone Records. Along with a trio of acclaimed sidemen—tenor saxophonist Ralph Bowen, trumpeter Jim Rotondi and drummer Quincy Davis—Gold draws deep into the well of organ-led jazz, preserving the styles of some of the genre’s more intricate pioneers, particularly Don Patterson and Larry Young.
The disc’s high flying opener, “My Sentiments Exactly,” features a twisting melody, deftly pronounced by Gold, Bowen and Rotondi. All three soloists careen through the tunes’ clever changes and boisterous bebop tempo. The angular stride and soulful bounce of “Get out of My Sandbox” inspires swinging rounds by all. Here, Gold stands out with his hard-driving, aggressive approach.
The medium-tempo groove of “Piece of Mine,” along with the melding of Afro Cuban and swing on “Midnight Snack” entice both Bowen and Rotondi into displays of technical brilliance. There’s a noticeable difference in musical personalities between the two that leads to interesting and welcomed contrasts. Rotondi’s lyrical, hard bop phrasing fits like a glove over the walking ballad “Dark Blue,” while Bowen’s take-no-prisoners approach adds a layer of thickness to the funky “Mama Said.”
Gold masterfully manipulates the organ’s draw bars to enhance clustered harmonic textures on his moody ballad “Saudades,” a compositional highlight featuring colorful percussive strokes from Davis. “Just a Suggestion,” a tune with a spirited contemporary gospel vibe, closes the session with a slightly more greasy side to Gold’s capacity and blistering lines from Bowen.
All Wrapped Up is a first-rate affair, combining tradition with a spirit of adventure.