Kevin Toney 3 - New American Suite (2012)

‘New American Suite’ from the newly form trio Kevin Toney 3 is a quality collection of piano driven jazz of a standard that befits Toney’s track-record as leader of the legendary The Blackbyrds and thirty year recording artist in his own right. In fact with Toney on keyboards, Michael Bradford on bass and Chris Coleman on drums, Kevin Toney 3 are a collective united in both their religion and their music. They prayer together and play together while the album’s nine hugely cinematic tracks acknowledge in music what Toney identifies as a recent paradigm shift in the USA toward real, forward thinking change. This vibrant recording is not ‘easy on the ear’ smooth jazz but is a sophisticated collection that has the power both to defy genres and delight those who listen.

For example the title tune starts out with classical piano flourishes, moves into a swinging jazz section and continues to an Afro-Cuban section which, after building to a powerful climax, finally returns to the original theme. This classical connection is no co-incidence. Toney studied the work of 19th century composer Antonin Dvorak and learned that one of his pieces was named ‘American Suite’. That’s where the inspiration for the title ‘New American Suite’ came from.

Elsewhere ‘E Pluribus Unum’ skips allow on a brisk beat while the ‘feel-good’ vibe of ‘A Soulful Union’ proves to be a heady concoction of gospel, rock and soulful jazz. It sits in delightful contrast to the tranquil ‘Spacious Skies’ for which Bradford on bass catches the attention. It’s Coleman that sets up a tasty swing come reggae beat for ‘Love Is All We Need’ and this original composition by Toney and Bradford is not to be confused with the Beatles song of the same name. However Toney 3 does find space for one cover, a fresh new interpretation of Scott Joplin’s familiar 1902 classic ‘The Entertainer’.

Tracklist:

1. New American Suite (6:36)
2. Love Is All We Need (5:31)
3. A Soulful Union (5:17)
4. Cyberia (5:31)
5. Spacious Skies (5:41)
6. E Pluribus Unum (6:08)
7. The Entertainer (7:02)
8. Family Times - Getting Happy (3:25)
9. In God We Trust (4:49)

Personnel:

Kevin Toney (piano);
Chris Coleman (drums);
Audio Mixer: Michael Bradford.