Whitaker, Rodney
Origin, 2022, CD
Instrument: Guitar
Issue: 28.4
Jazz Ruler Type: Ballads, Blues
Performance: 4
Sound: 3
Score: 79
O’s Notes: Michigan based bassist, educator and composer Rodney Whitaker focused on the music of Gregg Hill for Oasis, his latest release, a collection of late 1950s-style hard bop. Pianist Bruce Barth and drummer Dana Hall anchor the rhythm section with Whitaker. They start out upbeat, swinging behind vocalist Rochelle Fortin on “Betty’s Tine” and again on “To The Well”, two of the four vocal selections. They continue on with a series of happy tunes featuring Terell Stafford (t) and Tim Warfield (sax) resulting in a strong ode to tradition.
Publicist: Kari-On Productions
