"Waiting for Relief," "Scoop," "The Texture of Dusk," "So Far So Good," "New Star," "I Will," "Susan," "Noir," "N'Motion," "Closing My Eyes," "I'm with You" (52.37)
Doug Webb (ss, ts); Steve Cotter (g); Steve Venz (b); Jason Harnell (d); Joe Bagg (p,B3 org)
Talented bassist Steve Venz has assembled a competent group to play his original compositions. Amongst the major soloists, Doug Webb plays in a reflective and mellow manner on his statement of the tunes, but his solos on soprano occasionally become piercing and overbearing-this I found particularly noticeable on "Waiting for Relief."
Guitarist Cotter solos on most tracks and plays well with interesting improvisory lines. Venz, Harnell, and Bagg keep a relatively low profile by comparison.
Some of the themes are likeable, and the general performance is quite professional, but as a whole the CD doesn't rise to any great heights.
By Al Merritt