“Atalaya” off Atalaya by Dezron Douglas

The bassist Dezron Douglas begins his new album Atalaya not with a bass line, but rather a drum beat. He’s thinking about the big picture.

By the time his bass slides into the frame, the opening title track of Atalaya is already humming along. Horn, piano, drums, bass and more. Dezron goes for a bigger sound than offered in his more intimate duo album with harpist Brandee Younger, the superlative Force Majeure.

What carries over from the previous recorded effort, though, is a strong sense of presence in the performance. The spontaneity of the moment, a precious hallmark of jazz, is honored in this LP that’s sweet like a studio and spicy like a live performance.

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