Gary Versace
is one organist who plays music far beyond soul-jazz, moving into a realm of progressive sounds that approach the visionary
Larry Young
and rival peer
Larry Goldings
. With saxophonist
Donny McCaslin
and electric guitarist
Adam Rogers
,
Versace
is able to buoy their melodies with a visceral yet vibrant underpinning. He is fond of rhythms removed from 4/4, and the complex moods displayed during
"Dangerous Land"
and the quirky
"Pinwheel"
suggest that
will never play it safe, especially in the company of individualist musicians like
Rogers
and
McCaslin
. Though mostly in neo-bop modes,
also favors light Latin or Mediterranean rhythms, and even a tone parallel to the music of
Duke Pearson
on this stellar effort that stands head and shoulders apart from groove organ combo music. ~ Michael G. Nastos