International Volleyball 2009 V1.0.0.2

This 2009 Blues Bureau International release rounds up highlights from Chris Duarte’s previous albums for the label (hence, the “something old”) and adds the previously unreleased “Outside Man” and three live cuts (“something new”). The new cuts are as reliable slices of modern blues-rock as the previously released tracks, so this winds up being a solid sampler of a sturdy group of records.

A lost treasure from pianist Horace Tapscott - material recorded live at the legendary Lighthouse club in 1979, done with a very hip group of players from the Nimbus Records scene! The tracks are quite long throughout - and often start with Tapscott musing into the groove with solo piano, soon joined by group members who include Reggie Bullen on trumpet, Gary Bias on alto sax, Roberto Miranda and David Bryant on bass, and George Goldsmith on drums. Tapscott's piano has plenty of sharp edges throughout, but these introductory moments also show his more contemplative side as well - making the long tracks a wonderfully rich portrait of his musical talents.