When there's a crowd waiting for the band on a Monday night, you know they must be something special. Joshua Breakstone, Lonnie Jacobson, and Hal Howland were far more than that. I doubt if you could find as exciting a trio in any major music center, and yes, I include Nashville, where most of the fantastic session players are jazz specialists are.
Joshua Breakstone is in a class by himself, almost on a level with the late, great Lenny Breau. I say almost, because Joshua would consider it sacriligeous to compare Lenny to anyone. We both knew and loved Lenny. Joshua toured with him. I used him in the studio.
Mr. Breakstone is a composer as well. The first tune was a new melody written over the chord structure of a timeless jazz standard, "Cherokee", titled "Taken For Granted", and dedicated to another lovingly remembered jazz guitarist, Grant Green.
Josh has umpteen albums out on jazz labels. Why? Because he's a giant of the genre. Listening to him you'll hear a bit of Charlie Christian, Tal Farlow, and Wes Montgomery. But even great players need help. Josh definitely has it.
Lonnie Jacobson plays bass. Try to find someone better, anywhere! Drummer Hal Howland is also an ace. Imagine Gene Krupa on steroids.
You won't hear a three minute radio formatted song from this group. Each man plays a long solo, expressing whatever he finds in the song.
Another standard, "Star Eyes" proves the effectiveness of this policy. Josh is mavelous, starting the tune in a spare Latin feel, then changing the pattern of rhythm a number of times. Breakstone is a master of the `quote', a line or a phrase of a familiar song thrown in for effect that you're sure to recognize.
Lonnie Jacobson plays the best solo bass these ears have ever heard. His fluid lines express his totally artistic mind. Hal Howland has technique enough for a roomfull of drummers and some fine ideas. This is cerebral music you can understand.
A quote from "Lullaby Of Broadway" slips in. I love musical humor. A fine old ballad, "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" slows things down and shows a mellow, romantic side of the players.
Joshua's playing here is so smooth, with elegant legato phrasing. Was that a quote from "Small Hotel" I just heard? Lonnie is brilliant as usual, and Hal demonstates his excellent control and sense of dynamics.
Josh is fantastic playing single string or chordal melodies, and his comping behind Lonnie is all you could ask, enhancing, never covering.
Josh's arrangement of "Once In a While" sparkles. This is getting down with style, reminiscent of Hank Garland.
I keep telling you we have world class music on this funky island. A good many of them were in the audience, singer Marilyn Holderfield with husband Lowell Heinke, Chris Burchard with Lynn Gordon, Harry Schroeder, Dave Fadden, birthday girl Melody Cooper, Gary Chase, and others.
Go to Virgilio's on a Monday night and hear for yourself. Josh and company will prove it. Stay cool.