John Alvey - Loft Glow
(Jazz Music City Records, 2024)
From an established country music epicenter emerges a burgeoning jazz community. Nashville Drummer John Alvey has apprenticed in both genres and when it became time for him to lead a recording date, he was unsure what creative direction to take. Country music surrounded Alvey growing up. The fire and grit of rock music inspired him. But, it was the music of his father, Michael Alvey, noted jazz pianist, conductor and educator, that most informed the younger Alvey.
Alvey’s debut recording, Loft Glow, is a slim collection of six songs, three originals by Alvey (“Azure”) and band members trombonist Roland Barber (“Winslow Nocturne") and alto saxophonist Jovan Quallo (“June 23”). Alvey’s contribution opens the disc and is a bit of neo-hard bop heaven. Barber opens the soloing channelling Curtis Fuller while Alvey provides the tight rhythm over which pianist Matt Endahl sprinkles his inventive muse. It is an exceptional composition.
Alvey counts as his influences John Stubblefield, Ron Carter, and Benny Golsen, the latter being most apparent universally in the recording. Golson’s Jazztet sensibility permeates the recording with a fragrance of sophistication and complexity. Alvey gives Golson’s “Terminal 1” the full treatment with an introspective solo by Joel Frahm that elevates itself to a Coltranesque verticality. Alvey closes the recital with Ron Carter’s exquisitely swinging “Blues For D.P.” The lengthiest piece on the disc, bassist Jacob Jezioro introduces and closes the tune, with the interior filled with refined jazz moonshine supplied by all involved.