Joshua Breakstone, With the Wind and the Rain

Some disks come along that are so "just right" that you recognize them from the first notes on. That's how guitarist Joshua Breakstone's With the Wind and the Rain (Capri 74131-2) hit me right off the bat.

Why? The hardbop-and-beyond finesse of these guys comes right at you. Joshua is an excellent guitarist in a sort of Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Pat Martino zone, with lots of soul and changes-negotiating, line-weaving artistry. Lisle Atkinson and Eliot Zigmund on bass and drums give you that lift they are known for and take advantage of the pianoless space to get relentless swing feels going. Then for four of nine cuts they are joined significantly by Mike Richmond on pizzicato cello in the tradition of Pettiford and Carter, and that gives everything a real jolt. Mike sounds great.

They hot-up some heavy tunes like Paul Chambers' "Visitation", Pettiford's "LaVerne Walk" and Kenny Dorham's "Short Story". They do righteous versions.

This one has the kindling to get the fire going! Dig in and dig!