In a Heartbeat

Personnel: Whit Dickey (drums); Joe Morris (guitar); Chris Lightcap (double bass).
Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY (11/11/2004).
Drummer Whit Dickey's In a Heartbeat is mostly a high-energy set of original free bop. Some of the finest musicians in the idiom are featured, with the interplay between trumpeter Roy Campbell, altoist Rob Brown, and guitarist Joe Morris always being stimulating and fiery. The music is quite free yet purposeful and full of forward momentum. The compositions, despite the colorful titles, are slight, with Carla Bley's "Calls" being the most substantial piece, but it really does not matter. The reason that this outing is a success is that the musicians are quite skilled, listen closely to each other, and make memorable music out of very open originals. In a Heartbeat can be used to heat up a city. ~ Scott Yanow