Veteran jazz bassist Larry Gray has ranked in the upper echelon of modern mainstream players around his hometown of Chicago for quite some time. He, Marlene Rosenberg, and Rob Amster have garnered the bulk of work with different groups for three decades. Being the regular working bassist for Ramsey Lewis has certainly not hurt his bank account. But for One Look, the focus is on the venerable non-commercialized piano/bass/drums format, featuring the fine drummer Dana Hall and pianist Jim Trompeter. As the leader and composer of these works, Gray establishes the force and repertoire of the group, but it is Trompeter the interpreter who stands out, showing his influences on his sleeve and digging in with both feet on a slew of interesting melodic principles. He easily ranks among the best of Chicagoland pianists alongside Laurence Hobgood, Michael Kocour, Ryan Cohan, and Jo Ann Daugherty. The trio starts off with Soffia's Dream, a beautiful spirit song reflective of the thematic devices that make the music of Wayne Shorter so distinctive. Exceptional hard bop with power, urgency, and solid bass/piano unison lines in the Chick Corea post-Bud Powell vein identifies Trompeter's playing on Gravity, and the pianist remains close stylistically to Corea but more united with Gray and Hall for the very nice Waltz for Lena. The best unfiltered energy, though emblematic of McCoy Tyner, is extant in the 7/8 mode welded onto the standard Star Eyes, as superb an adaptation as you might hear anywhere. Another mode in 6/8 time pushes Not Knowing What He Wanted, a hip, involved workout for the trio. Gray asserts his arco powers on the solos Inflection and Reflection, leads out on the tender, melancholy ballad The Long Road (Home), and continues the bowed bass emphasis in tandem with Trompeter, ending with a melodic drum solo from Hall during Sentient Tears. Of course, Gray can swing with the best, lay down ultra cool or deft basslines that anyone can follow, and show a seasoned presence that any rookie or skilled player would envy. A welcome release from this trio, One Look is a showcase for all three of these excellent musicians that comes easily and heartily recommended. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi

1		Soffia's Dream
2		Inflection
3		Gravity
4		To Wait
5		Star Eyes
6		The Long Road (Home)
7		Sentient Tears
8		Waltz for Lena
9		Reflection
10		Not Knowing What He Wanted
11		One Look

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