Trombonist Michael Dease gives listeners the real deal by assembling a colossal collection of several of the best trombonists -- including Conrad Herwig, Marshall Gilkes, and Gina Benalcazar -- for his latest release Bonafide. Highlighted by a full complement of tour de force performances, the album also features strong showings supported by the hard swinging rhythm section of pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Todd Coolman, and the ever exciting drummer E.J. Strickland. This amazing ensemble of talents plays skillfully, and everyone works seamlessly together to keep the session in the pocket while the trombones cover all the finer points of the music with effortless mastery and melodic brilliance. Bonafide is a straight forward collection of quality performances that will certainly entertain jazz enthusiasts again and again with amazement and delight.
Trombonist/composer Michael Dease is a porkpie-hat kind of guy. On his new album, Bonafide, he strives to make fragrant both the swing and bop roots of the jazz tradition, and understands how an ensemble transforms the most personalized improvisations into acts of camaraderie.
When Dease brings four trombones to bear on Phineas Newborn Jr.’s “Theme for Basie,” the soulful swing puts the phrase “in the pocket” in boldface. His brass joust with trombonist Conrad Herwig on the Dease original boogaloo, “Alpha,” is a cutting contest of speed and intonation. The leader’s generosity of spirit with the core ensemble also promotes the kind of variation crucial to a trombone-centric project. His “Rufus McWhitman” is a low-down tribute to four bassists, including ensemble member Todd Coolman, who plumbs the melody alongside bass trombonist Gina Benalcazar. Pianist David Hazeltine is a hard-bop stalwart, especially noteworthy here on the two closing ballads, “Nós,” by the “Brazilian Billy Strayhorn” Johnny Alf, and Dease’s dedication to his mentor Wycliffe Gordon, entitled “The Real Deal.” On at least four of the 11 songs, there is ample space provided for the kinetic fills of drummer E.J. Strickland.
The horns likewise keep it fresh. J.J. Johnson’s gift to Wayne Shorter, “In Walked Wayne,” is here bestowed on guest Sam Dillon, whose tenor sax is a welcome break from the ’bone yard. The final trombonist on the session not yet name-checked, Marshall Gilkes, takes star turns on succeeding tracks, in tandem with Dease on the Marcus Belgrave tune “Batista’s Groove,” and with Dease and Herwig on the Dease number “Coexist.” The tune is, of course, “bonafide,” dictionary-defined as “authentic,” from the Latin root “with good faith.”
Jazz Weekly by George Harris
If you want some trombone in your life, slide on over to this album by Michael Dease. He leads a nine piece band boasting of four, count ‘em, four trombones, including bass ‘bone Gina Benalcazar along with Marshall Gilkes, Conrad Herwig and an unintimidated sole tenorist Sam Dillon and a rhythm team of David Hazeltine/p, Todd Coolman/b and EJ Strickland/dr. The bold and brassy team works well, teaming with a gospel piano on the funky “Alpha,” popping like bubble gum during “Forge Ahead” and punching like a middleweight for “Coexist” and the bouncy “Theme For Basie” with nice solo work by almost the entire brass section. Dillon gets his share veering through the horns on a lovely “The Real Deal” and richly textured “In Walked Wayne” while the horns glisten like a sunset on the lusciously textured “Nos.” A fun one!