Regeneration

Doug Miller's Regeneration is straight-ahead jazz in the modern vein, with a few twists, not the least of which is that there are drums on only four of the eleven tracks, giving the music a nice chamber jazz vibe. The bassist composed all but two of the tunes, and presents a fine mix of feels and meters. Noteworthy is his Ballad for Don and Midge and his dedication to John Clayton, Blues For Junior. The two standards included on the recording are Invitation and Bye Bye Blackbird, the latter is solo bass all the way, and nicely done. The musicians on the date, in addition to Miller, are drummer Phil Parisot, Dave Peterson on guitar and keyboard, and multi-hornist Jay Thomas. All three play splendidly and contribute mightily to the project; however, special mention needs to go to Peterson and Thomas for their doubling prowess! Peterson plays guitar and keyboard equally well, quite a feat, and not to be outdone, there's Thomas who plays trumpet and flugel, tenor and soprano saxes and flute, and all with an enviable command, regardless of musical style, groove or tempo.