Foxy Moon Baby-Dreamer

Foxy Moon Baby kicks off their new album Dreamer with the title track, an upbeat jazz mover that focuses on their instrumental prowess. Then no sooner, you are in the instrumental frame of mind and the next track “Velma in the Shade” kicks in, offering some more jazz with pop overtones and the pleasant vocals of Dennis Lippe, who also mans the guitars along with his sibling Chris.

So straight away you are wondering how this CD is going to develop as it moves deeper into the eight tracks. The third track “Native Land” reverts to the purer jazz that this band offers however, this time with some Latin flair embodying some tangy percussion and snappy trumpet along with some guitar that is more rock oriented, kind of like something Santana would do. I loved it, all of the components with red-hot Latin rhythms weaving their web in the song and the resolute prevailing percussion that always seems to provide the underpinning for everything else, allowing everything to fall into place somehow to make a complete song. Things do not stop there, it just keeps going, one entertaining track after another. I like the flow, selection, and ambiance on this CD. Its dissimilar aptitude is what makes this such an agreeable listen for lovers of jazz with broad tastes.

“Eclectic Fanfare” is something right out of the Herb Alpert bag of tricks, the trumpet plays a lead role and it makes the song what it is. I cannot take away anything from the other instruments though as each one has its place. Each slot in need of filling for every track has a musician that is very capable and more than just adequate, whether it is a band member or guest. A special mention goes to John Rolland (drums) and Geoff Kraly (bass), who are an effective one-two punch that provides the model rhythm section that any good jazz unit needs to carry on. Everything fits just right and all the moving parts come together just as they need to make this an absolute success.

So hats off to everyone involved in this project. Every track takes you on a multihued jazz journey, and as expected, each one is long enough to satisfy. This CD was worthy of many listens from my vantage point and surely I am not going to be the only one that feels that way once the word gets out about Foxy Moon Baby. What is great about a CD like this is that people that normally do not hear jazz, will, and those firmly entrenched with their jazz have an opportunity to hear a different brand of rock and pop mixed with jazz.

August 4, 2006

1. Dreamer (7:48)
2. Velma in the Shade (5:04)
3. Native Land (5:52)
4. Eclectic Fanfare (6:59)
5. Tanglewood Bliss (7:59)
6. Home and Away (4:54)
7. CIA (7:19)
8. Mother Discovery (5:04)

Credits:
Dennis Lippe: guitars and vocals
Chris Lippe: guitars
John Rolland: drums and percussion
Geoff Kraly: bass

Additional Musicians:
Jeffery Woodruff: percussion
Tim Hayes: piano and keyboards
Justin Davis: trumpet
Michael Kammers: tenor saxophone
Meilana Gillard McLean: tenor saxophone