Kelso, Mark
Groovy Drums, 2015, CD
Instrument: Drums
Issue: 23.3
Jazz Ruler Type: funk
Performance: 5
Sound: 4
Score: 68.5
O’s Notes: Drummer Mark Kelso was born in Ireland and now lives in Toronto where he teaches, writes and formed a super band The Jazz Exiles. The rest of the band is bassist Rich Brown, Robi Botos on keys, saxophonist Luis Deniz and guitarist Joey Martel. Mark supplies a steady, funky beat with enough accents to make you feel his presence. There is a funky groove on Stealing From My Youth that persists throughout the set. We enjoyed the fast fusion of “Fred’s Fast City” and the mid tempo vibe on “Like A Finger Pointing To The Moon” before the relaxed ballad “The Forbidden City” and wrapping up with “Whirleybird”, our favorite in an outstanding session that reinvents the great contemporary jazz fusion of yesterday!
Publicist: Fat Drop
