Bill Carter and The Presbybop Quartet - Dancing Day (2000)

Can any of you jazz fans out there imagine what it would have been like if Dave Brubeck lived a double life, one as a Presbyterian minister and the other as a piano playing leader of a jazz quartet? The Rev. Bill Carter and his band - named after his other vocation - answer that musical question. Not only does the Presbybop Quartet sound like one of Brubeck's classic groups, the famous jazz pianist was a fan of this aggregation.

The group includes Al Hamme on sax, clarinet and flute, Tony Marino on acoustic bass and Tom Whaley on drums. This is not a group of amateurs playing for their own amusement. These groovy cats are serious jazz musicians.

Hamme has played with jazz all-stars Clark Terry and Slam Stewart. Marino has played bass for Betty Buckley, famous on Broadway for her starring role in Cats, and Whaley has a national reputation playing with the likes of Mose Allison.

Leader Carter, who composed most of the music on this CD in addition to saving souls, is blessed with the ability to play melodic and rhythmic jazz piano on par with the best keyboard men of the genre.

While the Brubeck influence is obvious Carter's original pieces contain enough of his own creative imagination to make the music sound modern and vibrant. The band really shines on the upbeat numbers. "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day," "Pass the Plate," and "I Lost My Keys at Kennedy Airport," in which Hamme plays superb jazz flute, all swing and show off the quartet's considerable talents. Both Hamme and Carter play enjoyable solos everywhere but neither musician meanders so long that they become tedious. At the same time we cannot overlook the contributions of the rhythm section which supplies a great backdrop without overpowering the music being played up front.

Many of the titles, and all three vocal tracks featuring singer Jacque Tara Washington, have religious overtones. Carter explained the inspiration behind each one in the CD's interesting liner notes.

The Presbyboppers should be taken seriously. If Dave Brubeck could throw his support behind this group so should we.

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