For those not in the know, the great straight ahead jazz guitarist Doug MacDonald has certainly been prolific throughout his career. Since 2017 he has led such albums as California Quartet, Organisms, Mid-Century Modern, Jazz Marathon 4, Live in Hawaii, Toluca Lake Jazz, Serenade To Highland Park, Overtones and Big Band Extravaganza, recording in a wide variety of settings with some of Southern California’s finest musicians.

His newest release, Edwin Alley (due out August 1st, 2023), is a follow-up to Serenade To Highland Park. While Serenade mostly featured the trio of MacDonald, Mike Flick on bass, and drummer Paul Kreibich performing standards along with a handful of the guitarist’s originals, Edwin Alley has MacDonald, Flick and drummer Kendall Kay interpreting eight of MacDonald’s colorful compositions plus a lone standard.

1. Zoot And Pepper (3:34)
2. Eyow / Is This It (4:46)
3. Benedetto’s Theme (5:06)
4. Three For Two (3:49)
5. Groove Blues (2:35)
6. J7 (4:11)
7. Rapini (4:13)
8. Tuned Out (3:57)
9. You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To (4:16)

Opening on the fulgent Zoot And Pepper (a tribute to Zoot Sims and Pepper Adams) and the soulful beauty within Eyow / Is This It they are followed by the upright bass-led smoothness of Benedetto’s Theme (dedicated to guitar designer Robert Benedetto) and the quietly playful Three For Two.

Along next is the upbeat and joyful Groove Blues (where MacDonald showcases his expertise on a Portuguese guitar called the Coimbra) and the gently frenetic J7 and they are in turn backed by the genuine finger snapper/foot tapper Rapini, the album rounding out on the furtive rhythms within Tuned Out, closing on the one cover, the swinging jazz standard You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To.

Throughout this easily enjoyable outing, the trio often plays as one. Their experience in working with each other is obvious and results in often-telepathic interplay. While MacDonald is the lead voice, Flick and Kay have their share of solo space and prove to be both skilled improvisers and masterful accompanists.

Musicians: Doug MacDonald: Guitar, Coimbra (Portuguese guitar) on Groove Blues, Mike Flick: Bass, Kendall Kay: Drums

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