Edmund Velasco: The Blues In Me

Jim Santella

Senior Contributor since 1997

Jim Santella has been contributing CD reviews, concert reviews and DVD reviews to AAJ since 1997. His work has also appeared in Southland Blues, The L.A. Jazz Scene, and Cadence Magazine.

Recent articles (1,677 total)

Published: April 1, 2000

The Edmund Velasco Quintet drives hard bop mainstream with class. Their second album, all originals, captures a traditional essence while remaining fresh. The tenor saxophonist and his front line partner, trumpeter Kye Palmer, hand out classic lines as many have done before them these past 50 years. The hard bop quintet instrumentation makes a fine vehicle for mainstream jazz because of its history. But it’s the quality of their music that counts, and Velasco’s unit carries on that tradition well.

Benefactors of Orange County, California’s extensive college training grounds for big band and small ensemble jazz, the quintet’s members read each other’s cues with precision and produce the desired result.

Track Listing: Turning Point; The Blues In Me; Not Even the Rain Has Such Small Hands; The Underside; Cuidado; Remember When; The Incredible Mr. T; Still Here; Hyped Up.

Personnel: Edmund Velasco- tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone; Kye Palmer- trumpet; Ken Treseder- piano; Toby Holmes- bass; Jimmy Ford- drums.

Record Label: GemTone Records
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream