David Finck Quartet
Future Day
Soundbrush Records
By George W. Harris

Bassist David Finck knows a good band when he hears one. This group of guys (Tom Ranier/piano, Joe Locke/vibes and Joe La Barbera/drums) just put out a top notch disc under the leadership of Eddie Daniels (“Live At The Iridium”), so they know how to cook. On this disc, they sound even more cohesive as a unit, displaying a snapable flexibility throughout this rigorously enjoyable session. Mixing up a complement of originals with a few jazz standards, Finck and company skate through elegantly joyful tunes like “New Valley”, which features some lovely vibe work by Locke. Finck’s bass work is a sonic trip; he snaps and crackles through Shorter’s mysterious and spacious “Black Eyes”, and alternatively bows beautifully on Roger Davidson’s “Ballad for a Future Day.” As to be expected, La Barbera and Ranier are exemplary and efficient. Ranier has hands as quick as mercury on “Appointment In Orviet” and Cedar Walton’s “Firm Roots”, being driven on by La Barbera’s crisp drum work. Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and saxist Bob Sheppard sit in four the hard driving boppish “Four Flags” and the salsa’d “Look At You.” This is mainstream jazz of the highest caliber performed by men who have it in their corpuscles