By Gary Fukushima | Published August 2022
Aside from his early jazz education at Berklee College of Music, most of bassist and Laguna Beach native Billy Mohler’s life and livelihood has occurred in California, where he has had a successful career as a producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. After his first jazz album, Focus (Make Records), was released to universal well-regard in 2019, it was only natural for this Grammy-nominated Hollywood denizen to immediately begin planning for the sequel. Anatomy delivers in that aspect, bringing back the entire cast — tenor saxophonist Chris Speed, trumpeter Shane Endsley and drummer Nate Wood — in an encore performance of what worked so well the first time.
Mohler’s instincts and experience in rock and pop translate well to writing original jazz music that, despite the seriousness and sincerity of the craft, manages to remain engaging and — yes — fun.
This stems from the bottom-up with infectious bass ostinato grooves that sync with angular, mostly unison lead lines from the horns.
“Nightfall” utilizes a clever clave in 13, horns along with the bass before moving into counterpoint against it. “Exit” introduces a forlorn, atonal melody over a primal three-note bass figure, featuring a flighty solo by Speed, followed by Endsley, who is enhanced with added spontaneous echo effects from producer Daniel Seeff. “Speed Kills” is one of two loping modal swing tunes à la late Coltrane, the open two-feel allowing for plenty of free-range exploration by Endsley and Speed, who are both in top form throughout, their solos intricate, expressive and surprising.
Anatomy: Abstract 1; Fight Song; Nightfall; Equals; Abstract 2; Perseverance; Exit; Abstract 3; Speed Kills; Moonglow. (43:22)
Personnel: Billy Mohler, bass; Shane Endsley, trumpet; Chris Speed, saxophone; Nate Wood, drums.
Ordering Info: contagiousmusic.bandcamp.com
