For those unaware, while Denver Colorado born trumpeter Gabriel Mark Hasselbach’s albums Open Invitation (2014) and Tongue & Groove (2021) were more acquainted with the smooth jazz genre, his subsequent albums - Mid Century Modern, Volume 1 (2018) and Mid Century Modern, Volume 2 (2019) - are much more of a fluid jazz mix.

And here on the third volume, Mid Century Modern, Volume 3, he once again follows in the footsteps of the previous two, albeit this time taking a decidedly different turn into fiery organ combo territory, even going head-to-head with the trumpet/organ sound of Joey DeFrancesco.

Gabriel’s working combo features himself on trumpet, the fleet fingered Jason DeCouto on organ/bass, the snappy Nick Bracewell on drums, and the mellifluous John Lee on guitar.

Complete with a dynamic deep dive into a few well-chosen originals and, of course, mid century gems, Gabriel then switches things up by bringing in some flute, flugelhorn, and trombone, for some underutilized, but still very much timeless classics.

1. Jonah’s Joint
2. Bring It Home To Me
3. Big Dipper
4. Nutville
5. Slow Hot Wind
6. Senor Blues
7. Easy Living
8. Lover Come Back To Me
9. Underground Vibe
10. Blue Miles
11. I Love You
12. You Don’t Know What Is
13. I Love Paris
14. Angel Eyes
15. Blue Bossa

This soulfully crafted, heartfelt and impassioned new album opens on the dulcet, languishing beauty of Jonah’s Joint and the joyous funk-soul of Bring It Home To Me and then we get the vibrantly cushioned, and aptly-named Big Dipper, the fervency of melodies and rhythms within Nutville, then comes the atmospherically-charged Slow Hot Wind, the upright bass-led beauty Senor Blues, and then the ornate gossamer of the ballad Easy Living is brought forth.

Up next is one of my own personal favorites on this new recording, the uproariously delicious Lover Come Back To Me and that is in turn followed by the harmoniously-crafted Underground Vibe, the hauntingly smokey Blue Miles, the foot-tapper I Love You, the late night, delicate orchestrations within You Don’t Know What Is, the album rounding out on the veritably shimmering, yet electric-paced I Love Paris, the lonesome, yet sultry Angel Eyes, coming to a close on the upbeat and flirtatiously elegant Blue Bossa.

Slow Hot Wind by Gabriel Mark Hasselbach (Official Music Video)

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