Dave Bass Quartet
Featuring Ernie Watts-Babatunde Lea-Gary Brown with Mary Stallings
Gone
www.davebassmusic.com
By George W. Harris

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!