Chromatic Harmonica wizard Ralph Rosen joins Evening Sky for the latest release in their Plus One series. Rosen brings his experience both as a jazz and blues drummer and as a classical harmonica player to this set of Evening Sky originals, all composed by guitarist Gino Rosati, and recorded by drummer and producer Eric Hastings. The result is a mix of funky soul-jazz and searching, atmospheric Americana.

This album in Evening Sky’s Plus One series starts with “Lamont’s Revenge,” a groovy, swinging little number that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Quincy Jones or Herb Albert album circa 1968, with its cheeky call and response melodies, surf guitar licks and funky drumming.

“The River Runs Dry” features Rosen’s aching harmonica as it evokes a withered, Western landscape whose best days have long since passed. Bassist Joe Potenza and drummer Hastings propel “Wait in the Car” with a slinky, falling-down-the-stairs groove as Rosati’s guitar melodies conjure up comparisons to Leo Nocentelli and John Scofield.

The aptly titled “Scene Change” is a short palette cleanser featuring Chris Brook’s ethereal work on the pedal steel guitar. The band ramps it back up on the next two numbers, the power waltz (that’s a style, right?) of “Aftermath” and the up-tempo boogie of “I Didn’t Think So,” which the band and Rosen sweated through many times at their monthly residency in Providence, Rhode Island.

The album closes with the searching ballad “The Last Time I Saw You,” a beautiful compositional statement from Rosati that the band expands on as only Evening Sky can.

Ralph Rosen – Chromatic Harmonica

Evening Sky
Chris Brooks, Pedal Steel Guitar
Eric Hastings, Drums, Percussion & Hammond Organ
Joe Potenza, Bass
Gino Rosati, Electric & Acoustic Guitars