By Herb Boyd | Published February 2020
Two years ago, Giuseppe Millaci & Vogue Trio debuted with Songbook, receiving some solid reviews. And with The Endless Way, that praise doesn’t seem to have been a fluke.
Pianist Amaury Faye sets a blistering tempo on Bud Powell’s “Dance Of The Infidels,” which is just the comfort zone bassist Millaci and drummer Lionel Beuvens need to apply their own breathtaking creativity. It’s a dazzling display of unity and exchange on the bouncy bebop classic.
“Escape Bass” is the shortest track here, and as the title suggests, it’s Millaci’s moment to showcase his considerable talents. The bandleader does so in a manner that recalls Charlie Mingus and evokes an almost conversational tone. But there’s also an Oscar Pettiford touch, and legato. The only objection a listener might have is that the tune could have been a bit longer. The trio resumes its hard-bop angling on “Highway 132D,” and except for the Autobahn, there is no road capable of handling the group’s collective momentum.
The Endless Way seems to show that Millaci’s a consummate leader who allows neither speed nor the slow, meditative pace of a tune obstruct him.
The Endless Way: Timeless; Pra Dizer Adeus; Dance Of The Infidels; Mi Ritorni In Mente; Escape Bass; Highway 132D; Iberian Waltz; A; Calavera. (48:59)
Personnel: Giuseppe Millaci, bass, Amaury Faye, piano; Lionel Beuvens, drums.
