Jazz Weekly Review
By George W. Harris, JazzWeekly.com • May 24, 2011
Sidelined with a wrist fracture that kept him out of the music scene for 20 years, pianist Dave Bass returns with a triumphal entry on this wonderful disc of exciting music. The quartet features vibrant music that leans toward original Iberian dance tunes such as “Mi Guajira” and the title track, along with Piazzolla’s “Libertango.” Vocalist Stallings does nicely with “I Bet You Wonder,” but nothing here beats the pair of wondrous duets between Watts and Bass on “Libertango” and “Someday.” Listening to these gents on the sonatas is like sneaking a peak at two dancers in an intimate dress rehearsal. Simply stupendous. Welcome back!
IAJRC Journal Review
By John Clark • March 13, 2011
The multi-instrumentalist Dave Bass has led a peripatetic musical life, from studies in Boston with Madame Chaloff to tours through the Far East to a career in Latin Music in San Francisco. When the lure of a stable existence called, he went back to school and became a lawyer and has spend the last two decades working for civil rights in California. Now, with stability in hand, he is returning to a more active musical life, and this disc of his own compositions attests to a lifetime of experience - both musical and otherwise.
This 2010 CD was recorded on two dates in 2008 and 2009 with the same personnel. Saxaphonist Ernie Watts is certainly the most familiar name. A long career in Jazz and Rhythm and Blues (with artists as diverse as Frank Zappa, The Rolling Stones, Charlie Haden, Marvin Gaye and Oliver Nelson) has ultimately led him back to Jazz, where his most high profile associations have been with Buddy Rich and later with the Tonight Show Band. Here, he plays tenor exclusively, demonstrating exceptional chops on the more straight-ahead swingers, Le Grand and Since I found You, but reserving his most impressive playing for Astor Piazolla's Libertango - a duet between him and the leaders. A second duet, Someday is more reflective and its gospel feel calls forth some impassioned playing by both.
Dave Bass is a formidable pianist who also has abilities as a composer. His most florid playing comes on Carol - a power ballad showcasing Watts' more R&B style and a precisely played arrangement. While his still is primarily 60's hard bop of the Coltrane era, he also creates some exciting Latin textures as well as popular ballads Surrender and I Bet You wonder featuring the vocals of Mary Stallings. Stallings is a refreshing singer - obviously influenced by Carmen McRae, she brings impressive musicality and feeling to the table, along with a sly delivery.
The other members of the rhythm section are unfortunately not featured, but they provide solid yet flexible support for the excursions of Bass, Watts and Stallings. The overall impression left by a hearing of this disc is the heartening feeling that contemporary jazz can indeed still swing when delivered by the right hands.
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All About Jazz Italian Edition
By Michael Chisena, italia.allaboutjazz.com • March 11, 2011
Dave Bass had a mad desire to return to playing music. After being one of the players in the San Francisco scene in the 70s and 80s, he had distinguished himself at the royal court of Bobby McFerrin.
Suddenly he packed it all in. Perhaps music didn't give him those necessary satisfactions (let's try to think in economic terms) that perhaps a professional career in law could ensure.
Well, then, to the devil with jazz and the whole music biz. The courtrooms were more inviting, legal arguments were his new passion. But never say never. It's already been five years since another turn that brought him to this CD that signals his return to the scene.
Gone contains 11 tracks, including a cover ("Libertango") that show all the urgency of a musician who truly couldn't stand to stay in a smoky law office to think only of civil actions, appearing in court, and blah, blah, blah.
He didn't leave anything out here. Ernie Watts makes his tenor flutter between the crystalline and the piano-like from the first upbeat of "LeGrand." A declaration full of liveliness and energy. Every so often, the bluesy voice of Mary Stallings ("Surrender") gives them the right glossy touch. The echoes of Latin jazz, very much present, bring out all of Bass' passion for the genre ("Mi Guajira," "Gone") and are revived by the bubbling beat of old acquaintance Babatunde Lea.
Still the blue notes of "Someday" seem to belong to another era. The refined romanticism of "Carol" and "Another Ending" demonstrate that the pianist would almost, just almost, do better to think over the case of jazz.
Rating: 4 stars
Ken Franckling’s 2010 Top 10 List
By Kenneth Franckling • December 17, 2010
The 10 best new jazz releases of 2010, listed alphabetically:
Dave Bass Quartet, Gone (Dave Bass Music)
Lisa Engelken, Caravan, (Little Angel)
Tamir Hendelman, Destinations (Resonance)
Dave Holland Octet, Pathways (Dare2)
Christine Jensen, treelines (Justin Time)
Pat Metheny, Orchestrion (Nonesuch)
Jean-Michel Pilc, True Story (Dreyfus)
Ellen Rowe Quartet, Wishing Well (PKO Records)
Omar Sosa & NDR Bigband, Ceremony (Otá)
Jacky Terrasson, Push (Concord Jazz)
AAJ Review of Gone
By Bruce Lindsay, All About Jazz • December 16, 2010
Gone, as pianist and composer Dave Bass reflects in his notes to this fine album, has many meanings: for the Beat Generation, it was a state of mind, but it can also suggest physical absence. Bass himself was gone for 20 years--out of the music business, following a wrist fracture in the mid-1980s. He studied law, eventually becoming a District Attorney in California and then, fortuitously, returned to jazz in 2005.
Before his injury, Bass played in the West Coast jazz and Latin scenes, as well as working with vocalists Bobby McFerrin and Brenda Lee. Gone was recorded over two sessions, one in 2008 and the other in 2009. All but one of the tunes are Bass compositions: he possesses a talent for creating beautifully structured tunes, whether he's drawing from his jazz background or his Latin, and also shows a talent for lyric writing.
"Lost Valentine" is an achingly beautiful ballad, centered onErnie Watts' terrific tenor saxophone sound. There's sterling support fromBabatunde Lea's softly flowing drumming, and a delicate solo from Bass, but this is very much Watts' showcase, as he demonstrates a superb command of tone and mood. "Someday" is a Bass and Watts duet: gospel-tinged, mournful yet uplifting.
Most of the other instrumentals are happier, more optimistic "feel good" tunes. "Since I Found You" is a fine example--Watts again takes the lead, but Bass, Lea and bassist Gary Brown drive the tune along with pace and verve. Bass' Latin influences are to the fore on "Another Ending" and "Mi Guajira," the latter gaining extra groove from Harold Muniz' congas.
Vocalist Mary Stallings, who has worked with Count Basie and Louis Jordan, joins the band for two songs. Sadly, it is only for two songs, because she has a terrific voice--soulful and emotive. Both "Surrender" and "I Bet You Wonder" are late-night bluesy love songs: slinky and sensual. Stallings interprets Bass' lyrics with sensitivity and adds some scat to "Surrender."
Astor Piazzolla's "Libertango" is Gone's solo non-original. A fast duet between Bass and Watts, both play with precision and create some genuine tension. Bass' solo midway through is finely-judged, and his closing piano phrases bring the tension to a pitch before finally releasing it.
Gone is a hugely enjoyable album. The band is uniformly excellent, and both Watts and Bass are in terrific form, while the under-used Stallings is ideally suited to the feel of the pianist's compositions. Bass' return to jazz, on this evidence, was long overdue and is definitely to be welcomed.
Mainstream Jazz
By Zookeeper Online, Stanford • November 22, 2010
Talk about day jobs: Sacramento pianist Dave Bass is also a California Deputy Attorney General! But he was playing jazz long before he moved into law, and he sounds pretty darn good on this set of well-crafted original tunes, several of which show a little hint of tango influence (so it’s no surprise he covers Piazzolla on #5). Nice. Read article online >>
Back and Sounding Better than Ever
By Doug Simpson, Audiophile Audition • September 30, 2010
Pianist Dave Bass proves that while he has been gone for a while, he is back and sounding better than ever.
Some people never get a second chance. Pianist Dave Bass is one of the lucky ones. In the 1970s and early 1980s Bass was part of the San Francisco jazz community, led his own group and played with others such as Bobby McFerrin and Babatunde Lea. But a wrist fracture put his music on hold, so Bass turned to education, eventually earning a law degree and establishing a legal career in 1992. Bass returned to music five years ago and he’s going ever stronger on his latest effort, Gone, an 11-track, 69-minute collection of post-bop, Latin jazz, nuevo tango and two songs that feature guest vocalist Mary Stallings.
It is hard to believe Bass was gone for so long: his artistry, imagination and technical flair attest he is at the top of his game. On Gone, Bass has a consistently stellar backing band: tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts, drummer/percussionist Babatunde Lea, acoustic bassist Gary Brown, the aforementioned Stallings and conga player Harold Muniz is on one tune.Everything except for a soulful strut through Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango” was penned by Bass, and his compositions reveal his influences and also prove he can write and arrange in several styles with certainty and assurance.
The quartet commences with upbeat opener “LeGrand,” a traditionally-minded swinger fronted by Watts’ fast-paced sax that is met toe to toe by Bass’ equally impressive piano while Lea and Brown never let up the quickened tempo. “LeGrand” is an effective way to start the program and has a prominent head that other musician’s may find fun to work with. Another affirmative piece is the bubbly “Since I Found You,” a confident romp where Watt enjoys himself and Bass offers a witty improvisation that shines with mirth.
Bass and Watts stand out on every cut, but there are highlights that pop out. One is bluesy, gospel-tinted “Someday” which affords a lot of room for Bass and Watts to duet and showcase their emotive gifts. Watts supplies some of his finest sax aptitude: when he soars into the higher register, listeners will take note. The two also collaborate with sterling results on “Libertango,” which ebbs and rises with story-like flourishes. Bass’s keyboards present a sympathetic counterpoint to Watts’ sax soloing; later Watts steps aside while Bass puts forward a cadenced solo that echoes a vibraphone’s tonality.
Bass continues to confirm his love for Latin American jazz on a pair of memorable tunes. “Mi Guajira” is a bouncy number that includes Muniz on congas. The piece was also recorded by the Afro-Cuban La Descarga! Quartet, which Muniz and Bass both perform in. The album-closing title track is a mid-tempo tango that rivals anything else on Gone and is another vehicle for Watts’ robust saxophone and has a Bass solo that drives headlong from Latin to nearly avant-garde.
Stallings’ contributions are also noteworthy on two cuts with lyrics and music written by Bass. Up first is the slow film-noirish “Surrender,” a simmering tale of yearning and burning romance. The group also gets blues-infused on “I Bet You Wonder,” a last-call invitation for a late-night rendezvous.
All About Jazz Review by Edward Blanco
By Edward Blanco, allaboutjazz.com • September 19, 2010
California Deputy Attorney General, Dave Bass, is a legal eagle who has, once again, immersed himself in the musical passion that was his first love, soaring mightily on the impressive Gone. An attorney by profession and a pianist by design, Bass once supported himself as a musician, early on in his life, where he worked both locally and abroad. After a twenty-year hiatus, Bass returns to music with ten original modern jazz compositions, brought to life by his very able quartet of tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts, bassist Gary Brown and drummer Babatunde Lea—who, during the 1970s and 1980s, were part of a previous Bass group. Veteran jazz vocalist Mary Stallings lends her appreciable talents on the only two vocal tracks: "Surrender" and "I Bet You Wonder."
Watts' perky performance opens the music on the striking starter, "LeGrand," drawing Bass in with an almost "catch me if you can" dare that's immediately accepted by the pianist, with some quick-moving lines of his own. Stallings' gentle approach on "Surrender" evokes a tender response from Watts, the pianist stealing the melody with his deft right hand.
Once a part of the vibrant San Francisco Latin jazz scene, Bass revisits his Latin ties on the hip-shaking "Mi Guajira," with a little help from conguero Harold Muniz. Astor Piazzolla's "Libertango" is the disc's only non-original, with Bass and Watts performing the first of two superb duets (the humbling, down-tempo "Somebody" being the other). "Since I Found You" begins with a hint of Duke Ellington, but then develops its own identity and melodic charm behind more pleasant play from Watts.
Some of the pianist's best lines can be found in the brisk modern jazz piece, "Carol." "Another Ending" is a not-to-be-missed piece of creative, balladic beauty, calling for repeated spins. Here, Watts and Bass are at their best, delivering sweet and delicate phrasings, and marking this piece a sure keeper.
The music closes with the light, tango-shaded title piece, once again reflecting the leader's affinity for a Latin sound, and glowing from the sizzling play of the band, punctuating the recording with a final sparkle. On Gone, Bass returns with a bang after being away for two decades; a clear musical statement that this amazing jazz pianist is here to stay.
Jersey Jazz Review
By Joe Lang • September 14, 2010
Pianist DAVE BASS is a performer new to me. His album Gone (Dave Bass Music - 410) makes me pleased that he has come to my attention. His cohorts on the disc, tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts, drummer/percussionist Babatunde Lea and bassist Gary Brown are players that I have heard previously, and guest vocalist Mary Stallings, who is on two tracks, is among the best of the current jazz singers. All of the tunes, except for Astor Piazzolla's "Libertango," are penned by Bass, including the lyrics for "Surrender" and "I Bet You Wonder," the two selections featuring Stallings. Bass has had an interesting background. He was an active musician during the '70s and early '80s, but fractured his wrist, putting his musical future in doubt. He reversed field, eventually obtained a law degree from UCLA, and currently is a Deputy Attorney General in California. In 2005, he decided to stick his hands back into the musical waters, and has done so in an impressive manner. From the evidence on Gone, he is a fine player and an interesting composer. Several of the pieces have a Latin flavor, reflecting his involvement in the Latin jazz scene during the earlier part of his musical career. Watts is a very expressive tenor player who adds much to the mix here. The rhythm cats are superb, and the two Stallings vocals are a major plus.
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
By Bob Karlovits • September 12, 2010
Saxophonist Ernie Watts has a sound that can make a good performance even better. "Gone," with the Dave Bass Quartet, is a fine album featuring the excellent drumming of Babatunde Lea and keyboard work of the leader. But Watts' sax easily is the strongest part of this album.
The highlight is "Someday," a bit of gospel/blues on which Bass' piano comes close to rivaling the work of Watts - no easy feat. They also put together a great duet on "Libertango" and dominate the work of the quartet on all the other pieces. "Gone" could be called "Back" because it is the return to music of Bass, who is a deputy attorney general in California.
The album also features singer Mary Stallings, who joins the group for "Surrender" and "I Bet You Wonder," and conga player Harold Muniz, who adds good Latin toughness on "Mi Guajira." All of the compositions are originals by Bass, who, it would seem, should never have gone away.
Pittsburgh Live Review
By Bob Karlovits, pittsburghlive.com • September 12, 2010
Saxophonist Ernie Watts has a sound that can make a good performance even better. "Gone," with the Dave Bass Quartet, is a fine album featuring the excellent drumming of Babatunde Lea and keyboard work of the leader. But Watts' sax easily is the strongest part of this album. The highlight is "Someday," a bit of gospel/blues on which Bass' piano comes close to rivaling the work of Watts — no easy feat. They also put together a great duet on "Libertango" and dominate the work of the quartet on all the other pieces. "Gone" could be called "Back" because it is the return to music of Bass, who is a deputy attorney general in California. The album also features singer Mary Stallings, who joins the group for "Surrender" and "I Bet You Wonder," and conga player Harold Muniz, who adds good Latin toughness on "Mi Guajira." All of the compositions are originals by Bass, who, it would seem, should never have gone away.
Blog Critics Review
By FCEtier • September 9, 2010
“My lawyer plays piano in a jazz quartet.” Do you like the sound of that? Or, is this better; “That piano player is a lawyer”? My question is, “When was the last time you heard a tango track on a jazz CD?”
The title track, “Gone” is a smart tango. It’s also a euphemism for his jazz piano career. The Cincinnati native was making a living in the San Franciso jazz and Latin music scene in the 70’s and early 80’s. Then, he was — gone.
A wrist fracture sent him to college that evolved into law school and now he is a California Deputy Attorney General. Fortunately for jazz lovers, he returned to music in 2005. He is joined for this project by Ernie Watts on tenor sax, Babatunide Lea on drums, and Gary Brown on acoustic bass.
From the opening bars of the first track, “LeGrand”, the Dave Bass Quartet hooks the listener like a great novelist grabs the reader. This may be as good a hook as the head from “Take 5”.
“Surrender” follows and features guest vocalist, Mary Stallings, with a moody and heartfelt delivery of Bass’s tender composition (she manages to slip in some scat). “Mi Guajira” is a look back at Bass’s Latin music experiences and features Harold Muniz on conga. Muniz, along with Bass, are part of “La Descarga!“, a quartet that specializes in Afro-Cuban Jazz.
Ernie Watts is the driving force carrying the melody in a duet with Bass as they cover Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango“, the only track on Gone not written by Bass. The title of the 1974 composition signals Piazolla’s break (liberation) from classical to nuevo tango. It also points out the willingness of a contemporary jazz composer to include tango in a jazz format. Bass work on keyboards provides a complimentary counterpoint to Watts’ sax and you can feel your feet moving as soon as your eyes find a dance partner.
Mary Stallings joins the group for her second number as she carries a torch with “time’s a’wasting…our destination might be the same this very night.” — a jazzy-blues performance of “I Bet You Wonder”. As Bass says, she “literally breathed life into my lyrics.” If Dave Bass writes legal briefs as well as he composes tight jazz, memorable melodies, and the kind of lyrics that evoke a range of emotions, the legal world is in for a fight. We won’t let him out of the jazz bar to practice before the bar.
Track seven, “Since I Found You” is an up tempo climax featuring improv opportunities for each of the members of the quartet with a showcase of Bass at the keyboard. His wrist has obviously healed wonderfully! Perhaps my favorite track is the next to last, “Another Ending”. It reminds me of what I’ve always referred to as “cocktail party” music. A classic jazz combination of piano, saxophone, bass, and drums setting a light, airy mood perfect for relaxing. Remember Dave Grusin's “Singleman Party Foxtrox” from The Graduate?
Jazz Notes Review
By Ken Franckling, jazz journalist and photographer • August 16, 2010
One listen to this dynamic disc and you'll be asking yourself: "Where has Dave Bass been all these years?" More than 20 years ago, the pianist was busy on the San Francisco jazz and Latin scene. But his musical future was in doubt after fractured a wrist in the mid-1980s. So he went to college, then law school. Now, he's a California deputy attorney general specializing in civil rights enforcement. These days, he is practicing law by day, immersing himself in jazz nights and weekends, and we listeners are the better for it.
Ten of 11 tracks are originals, with two including lyrics performed by Mary Stallings ("Surrender" and the catchy and clever "I Bet You Wonder"). The one non-original is Astor Piazzola's "Libertango." Bass is a terrific writer and player, and he has masterful support here from Ernie Watts on tenor, drummer-percussionist Babatunde Lea, bassist Gary Brown and conguero Harold Muniz. Bass's tune "Gone" is a stunning tango showcase for Watts and Bass. Given his history, Gone makes great sense as a CD title. "Back" could have been a worthy substitute.
Review from Amazon
By Grady Harp • August 10, 2010
What a talent is Dave Bass and what a history he shares with this new collection GONE. Beginning his life as a successful jazz musician, his career was 'temporarily interrupted' by a wrist fracture in the mid 1980s—too many times a fatal blow for a pianist. But Bass is indomitable, took a hiatus by studying at UCLA and ultimately becoming a lawyer, serving since 1992 as a California Deputy Attorney General in civil rights enforcement. But we have him back as of 2005 and from this terrific collection of songs he has written (music, and lyrics when called for) and performs with his own Dave Bass Quartet, this re-entry into music is fortunate for us!
The quartet, Dave Bass, piano, Ernie Watts, tenor sax, Babatunde Lea, drums and percussion, Gary Brown, acoustic bass, and adding at times Harold Muniz, conga, is a fine group, individually and as a solid single voice communication. Bass' music is catchy and wanders through the islands and the slick streets of pure jazz. In some of his songs he adds the vocal stylings of Mary Stallings who brings his rather pungent lyrics to life. The quality of the recoding is excellent, allowing each instrument the right ambience of sound chamber to show off his sterling technique. But in the end the artistry of Dave Bass is the glue that holds this recording so tightly together. Welcome back!
All About Jazz Review
By Karl Ackermann, allaboutjazz.com • August 5, 2010
If Dave Bass ever decides to give up his day job as a Deputy Attorney General, he can validate that decision based on the quality of Gone. Bass returns to jazz after more than twenty years, but his priors include stints with Bobby McFerrin, global percussionist Babatunde Lea, and interpretive jazz vocalist Jackie Ryan. His Gone quartet boasts of former colleague, Lea, legendary saxophonist Ernie Watts, and veteran bassist Gary Brown. With one exception, the eleven tracks are Bass compositions, and all demonstrate inventive writing and arranging.
”Le Grand” opens the set as traditional swing, but Watts quickly speeds up the tempo with a blistering improvisational solo that rivals his best moments. Bass' own solo matches the sax for speed and complexity, and Lea's drive never lets up, as he directs the pace from fast to faster. In a collection this instrumentally good, vocals may not always feel like a welcome or necessary addition. However, the accomplished vocalist Mary Stallings contributes to two tracks and her smoky rendering of “Surrender” is a standout performance. Following the frenzied opener, it emphasizes a bluesy film noir feel reminiscent of Abbey Lincoln, while showcasing Bass' talent as a lyricist.
”Mi Guajira” has a distinctively Latin beat, highlighted by another stellar solo from Watts that leads into a piano solo that would make Gonzalo Rubalcaba take notice. The melancholy opening of “Lost Valentine” is the platform for some excellent bass work from Brown, who plays a deep, woody and intricate pattern before Watts launches into a soulful cry. An all-out swing number with scorching piano, “Since I Found You” leaves plenty of impressive solo time for the entire group, while “Someday,” a blues/gospel-influenced piece, is essentially a stirring Bass-Watts duet that warrants repeated listens. The balladic “Another Ending” features some wonderful piano, with Bass sounding like the musical offspring of Mary Lou Williams and Abdullah Ibrahim, albeit with highly modernized rhythmic standards.
The title track, a mid-tempo tango, closes the collection, perhaps intentionally, with many of the elements that had come before. It implies punctuation on its musical stimulus without giving up the concept of moving on from those same influences. Advocates of stylistic separation, whether mainstream, free/avant-garde, Latin, etc., understandably find wild mood swings jarring.
There's an art in putting together a collection that successfully takes on as many sub-genres as Bass does. Staying within the constitution and temperament of jazz, allowing for improvisation and being inclusive, is an underrated skill but it is also the essence of jazz. Listening to what Dave Bass has done on Gone exemplifies the capabilities of an artist who can combine a big-picture mindset and diverse talents. It's a great platform for the kind of musical and intellectual aptitude that can bridge varied attributes of an abstract process.
Midwestrecord.com Review
By Chris Spector, Editor and Publisher, Midwestrecord.com • August 5, 2010
You know how it goes: Up and coming piano man that's pals with the rest of the then up and coming class hurts his hand and becomes a government lawyer. Not content to be good enough for government work, he heals up, calls some first call chums and burns it up on a tour de force that showcases all his various interests that he's missed while he's been away. The result is a groovy comeback. You want to hear some cats burning on blues and jazz for the sheer joy of it, this just might be the right place.
Hipster Pianist Returns
By By Alonzo Weston, Newspressnow.com • August 4, 2010 1 comments
Jazz pianist, composer and lyricist David Bass, an icon on the San Francisco jazz scene in the 1970s returns with his new CD "Gone." "Gone" features Bass and some of his band mates from that era including Ernie Watts, Babatune Lea, Gary Brown and vocalist Mary Stallings. A refreshing collection of original compositions.
Legal eagle Dave Bass doubles
as ace jazz piano player
By David Becker, Bay Area Jazz Examiner • August 2, 2010
If Dave Bass is half as good at making a legal argument as he is at building a jazz vamp, count me as one satisfied taxpayer.
By day, Bass is a deputy attorney general for the state specializing in civil rights enforcement. Nights and weekends, he indulges the jazz jones that supported him a few decades ago, when he became a familiar figure on the Bay Area jazz scene backing artists such as Bobby McFerrin and Babatunde Lea.
Somehow, the longtime Bay Area resident has also found time to play around in the recording studio. His new album, "Gone" presents 11 mostly original tracks that highlight Bass' sharp compositional skills, generosity as a bandleader and understated charm as a pianist.
He shines brightest on ballads such as "Lost Valentine," which builds up nicely from a few simple melodic figures, relying on Bass' subtle sense of drama and tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts' raw emotion to achieve great depth. Equally lovely is the haunting, bluesier "Someday."
Bass works mostly in a straight-ahead, post-bop mode, but he isn't afraid to get a little angular and modern at times. Or let someone else do it for him, as with Watts' chuffing solos on a few tunes. Vocalist Mary Stallings shows up for two tunes that make for a pleasant break but confirm that Bass is more in his element as a composer.
"Gone" is available online now, and Bass will play a few live dates around the album's official release in October. Or you violate somebody's civil rights and see what it's like to get on this guy's bad side.
—David Becker, Bay Area Jazz Examiner
Review by John Book
By John Book, thisisbooksmusic.com • August 1, 2010
Pacing on album is a key, even when you play it from end to beginning, and the Dave Bass Quartet understand this because they are musicians and performers. It’s about having an understanding of the craft, and they demonstrate this with Gone (self-released), which begins with a hitting tune before casually fading out into the sunset with a song ready-made for two lovers to fade out into the sound of love. “Another Ending” may remind some of the jazz albums of the 1960′s when jazz artists were willing to flirt with pop appeal, not too much but enough to help them reach audiences that might actually go and see them live.
Then again, jazz has that power to unite. Whether it’s the downhome gospel feel of “Someday” or the hot bluesy sweat of “Since I Found You”, you’ll want to tell people about this album or have someone in the room with you so you can get deep into its intentional emotions.
Jackie Ryan on GONE
By Jackie Ryan • July 30, 2010
I worked with Dave Bass early on in his original San Francisco Latin Jazz Band, Ad Infinitum, which also featured the fantastic percussionist, Babatunde Lea. At that time, Dave asked me to write lyrics to a tune of his, which came to be titled, Once In Everyone's Life. I liked it so much, I included it on my Passion Flower CD. Dave took time out to raise a family and practice law.
I am very happy that he has returned to his first joy and am thrilled to listen again to Dave's passionate playing; check out his solos on"Another Ending" and "Gone." Listen to Dave's soulful song, "I Bet You Wonder", with the incomparable and sultry voice of Mary Stallings, or Ernie Watts' fiery tenor sax on "LeGrand" for a taste of the treats on David's comeback CD, Gone.
Upcoming Events
-
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Dave Bass Quintet & Friends
7 to 10:30 pm
The Fugu Lounge
2071 Natomas Crossing Dr., Sacto
Vocalist Ann Roach joins the Quintet to perform the Dave Bass Songbook.
Dave, piano; Mike McMullen, sax, flute; Matt Robinson, bass; Brian Kendrick, drums, Carlos Caro, conga and percussion.Great sushi and free parking.
Reservations: 916 515-1958
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Saturday, April 14, 2012
Dave Bass Quintet & Friends
7 to 10:30 pm
The Fugu Lounge
2071 Natomas Crossing Dr., Sacto
Vocalist Francesa Homan joins the Quintet to perform the Dave Bass Songbook.
Dave, piano; Mark Tulga, sax, flute, clarinet; Matt Robinson, bass;
Brian Kendrick, drums, Carlos Caro, conga and percussion
Great sushi and free parking.
Reservations: 916 515-1958
$10 cover charge
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