There's quite a bit of buzz on the net surrounding Miami-born, ATL-based jazz saxophonist and producer Darryl Reeves. Reeves is very well known in and around the music inner circle having toured and recorded with artists like Roy Ayers, Julie Dexter, Frank McComb, Jill Scott, Russell Gunn, Angie Stone, Janelle Monae, Phonte and B.O.B., among others. 2012 finds Reeves releasing his fantastic new album entitled Mercury (Epic Life Music Group). The release of Mercury follows his 2004 release entitled Diary of a Bandstand which featured cutting edge jazz artists Robert Glasper and Russell Gunn.
Mercury successfully blends jazz-fusion, funk, hip-hop and soul creating a cosmic aura reminiscent of the 70s jazz-fusion of Herbie Hancock, Bennie Maupin, Patrice Rushen and Azar Lawrence. All but two tracks are killer originals and the two covers are stellar interpretations of Donald Byrd's classic Think Twice featuring Tennessee-based soul singer Valencia Robinson and Roy Ayers' "under the radar" Everytime I See You featuring Gwenn Bunn. ATL-based soul singer Carmen Rodgers also shows up and shows out on the cosmically soulful and sensuous Dark Matter (featured below). Saxophonist Darryl Reeves delivers a sublime, funky-fresh, adventurous jazz album with rhythm support by Kenny Banks, Jr. on keyboards, Joel Powell on bass and Kenton Bostick on drums.
