Kennedy, Tom: Points Of View

You don't feature regularly alongside jazz greats such as drummer Dave Weckl, or prog (and beyond) go to guys like Derek Sherinian unless you have a certain something about you. And in the case of bassist Tom Kennedy, it would appear he actually has more than a few certain 'somethings' going on. A bassist of huge ability and poise, the deftness to add keyboards to embellish his work, the skill to interpret the music of others quite wonderfully and the insight to compose a selection of tracks that hold the attention and the imagination, this is a man of many talents.

Using a revolving door of equally gifted musicians to bring his latest vision, Points Of View, to life, what else becomes apparent, is that while this is undoubtedly a jazz album, Kennedy is one of those rare beasts willing to meander from the path and not worry what you might call the results. Therefore we get the sax infused "The Dark" ready to sit on a deep atmosphere and no little virtuosity, whereas the triumphant "Gaslight Square Blues" is exactly that, the blues. Yes, the sax is back, this time in the hands of Bob Malack – Bill Evans took the role before – but it's the shuffle of Richie Morales' drums that set this scene, Mike Stern then given the freedom to peel off a remarkably hard hitting, yet relaxed solo as Kennedy underpins the whole caboodle with the unobtrusive, but still vibrant bottom end. While all eight selections here make a mark, it's this rollicking number that really stays with you once the album closes out.

In between times it's the shimmer of trumpet and piano that charges the imagination on "I'll See You", the upbeat push and pull of the album's title cut which invigorates and excites, while the more subtle but no less insistent "Just Listen" keeps everything ticking along in a variety of fashions. And that's key here, the 's' in this album's title absolutely vital in what it contains. Just as the main protagonist has more than a certain, singular something about him, so this isn't Tom Kennedy's point of view, instead these are his varied, evolving Points Of View. If you're willing to see things from his variety of different angles, you'll be most captivated by the ever changing vista Tom Kennedy and his cast of band mates create.

Track Listing
1. I'll Remember You
2. The Dark
3. New July
4. Just Listen
5. Points Of View
6. Koolz
7. I'll See You
8. Gaslight Square Blues

Added: June 4th 2017
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Tom Kennedy at CD Baby
Hits: 1509
Language: english

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