“Bebopping Along” finds composer and bandleader Phil Lentz paying spirited tribute to the heyday of bebop without being afraid to push its boundaries into postmodernity. The track is an energetic tribute to jazz’s deep roots, but it’s also a platform for musical storytelling that sounds timeless and refreshingly contemporary.
Nearly every track features Richard Philbin on the sax, and he’s simply outstanding. His sound is a dance of precision and soul, liquid and playful but with a solid foundation. He skates through phrases as only someone with years of reverence for the genre channeling the greats without aping them. Bouncing along is a sprightly piano line that conjures the warm glow of a downtown club at midnight. The interplay between piano and saxophone here is conversational and organic like two old friends exchanging stories after hours. In that exchange, Some solos are brash, others turn rhythmic and taut, and when you think you’ve caught the beat, it changes with a knowing smile.
The difference in “Bebopping Along” is Lentz’s adeptness at balancing solo acumen and ensemble unity. They are swirled together in a complex concoction that both respects jazz tradition and embraces music freedom. This track isn’t background music, it’s also never in your face. Whether you’re a longtime jazz lover or a recent convert to the genre, “Bebopping Along” leads you inside, offers you a drink, and asks that you stay a while.