Bob Sheppard
‘The Fine Line’
Challenge
Records
You may not have heard
of saxophonist Bob Sheppard, but you’ve surely heard him play. He’s worked with
Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, and Herbie Hancock on the jazz side, and Joni
Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, and Steely Dan in the pop realm. Released last May,
Sheppard’s excellent album “The Fine Line” gets off to a running start with
wild, serpentine riffs on his tune “Edge of Trouble.” It keeps gathering steam
from there, with fine, bluesy originals and well-chosen covers.
My favorite of the
covers is a spirited rendition of The Stylistics’ tune “People Make the World
Go Round,” penned by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, but a close second is Billy
Strayhorn’s “A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing.” Pianist John Beasley, drummer
Kendrick Scott, and bassist Jasper Somsen provide solid support, while guest
artists — including vibraphonist Simon Moullier, Rochester native and trumpeter
Mike Cottone, and vocalist Maria Puga Lareo — nicely augment Sheppard’s musical
vision.
This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2019.
