Steele, Johnny

Next Level, 2023, CD
Instrument: Drums

Issue: 29.1

Jazz Ruler Type: Bebop
O's Jazz Ruler

Performance: 4
Performance Chart

Sound: 3
Sound Chart

Score: 78
Score Chart

O’s Notes: Drummer Johnny Steele is one of the elite promising young jazz artists, and a Juilliard graduate. He leads a quartet with Chris Bittner (t-sax), Esteban Castro (p) and Cole Davis (b). Steele composed music for his idols, who also had a penchant for The Game, of Chess! Each of the six selections is followed with an interlude describing its relationship to chess. “The Prodigy” serves as a platform for rich solos by the band trading with Steele. Johnny takes the spotlight on “Bowie” and Castro stretches out on “Hewson”. We also enjoyed the title track.

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Publicist: Outside In