New Prescription:  Vicodin Dreams - The Reese Project

From the first strains of Laurie Haines Reese’s cello on "Cold Duck Time," to Tom Reese’s flute attack on "Wade In The Water" and each succeeding number, you know your pain is going to turn to pleasure the longer you listen.  Put together Aaron Walker on the skins and Jake Thro on B-3 and you have a combination to reckon with.  Though they call it "East Coast Cool," it’s still Blue Jazz to me.  If this ensemble was any tighter, they couldn’t breathe.  Tom Reese, flutist extraodinaire has outdone himself on his original riffs that move the listener along, and the phrasing by his musical buds just keep the musical conversation going nicely.  Tom writes like he has been on Vicodin, or is it inspiration by association?  Only Tom knows for sure.  Aaron Walker on drums keeps the stir mixed very nicely.  A lot of drummers want to stand out, but Aaron creates just the right rhythm that keeps everything together.  Jake Thro on B-3 Hammond creates a mid-section that is pure as the driven snow.  Though playing the B-3 can be  tempting to really let go, Jake keeps his East Coast Cool sharing the limelight with Tom on flute, Laurie on cello, Aaron on skins, and Chris Bakriges, who is no slouch on the ivories either.  "Soul Sister Has Arrived" is a little bit of a change of pace compared to the other selections that make up Vicodin Dreams, but the cello and the B-3 work nicely.  Aaron, coming in with the brushes, keeps a nice low rhythmic tone that allows the listener to catch his/her breath.  "Planxty Kong" is another change of pace that is almost Celtic in nature, but the drums in the beginning is Kong all the way.  And along with "Soul Sister Has Arrived" gives a complimentary mix that keeps it in the Jazz vein.  "Scatastrophy," "Afro Blue" and the title track, "Vicodin Dreams," get right back on track with a progressive style that is both soothing and introspective.  "In The Belly Of The Blues," "Memphis Underground," "Like Booze In The Night" and "Geristic" get back to the Blue Jazz style alluded to earlier.  A slower, grab you by the throat, and squeeze you like a Boa, type of blues.  A style that could be compared to a long drink of something that hits the spot, but still leaves you wanting more.  

Dave ButlerProducer/Host - InnerVisions Radio Show