Bob Mover has been around a long time entertaining jazz lovers everywhere. The one thing that eludes him is the recognition many of his peers receive. Although deserving you just do not hear his name mentioned in the same conversation about the best alto and tenor sax players in history. That is unfortunate and quite unfair in my estimation. After listening to his most recent effort It Amazes Me, it actually does amaze me that this great musician does not get the accolades so many others do. The primary reason that this has not happened for Mover is that he has remained true to himself and the art form he decided to pursue. In other words the man never sold his soul for the big payday, thus the headlines and star over his name did not materialize. I for one applaud his honesty and pure soul and above all, his beautiful music.

I, like many others, had not heard of this man and his music and now find it a revelation to experience what he has to offer. It Amazes Me is an original jazz sojourn, the kind you would have heard in the heyday of jazz in the 1950s. Mover’s sax is his lover and his voice comes across relaxed and sincere. Even though his voice may not be his strongest asset, it certainly endeared me to his presentation. After around three listens, I was totally in the corner of this artist.

Like a championship team, Mover drafted all the right players to make his recording a special event. The contributing musicians fit very well with the overall scheme of things and support the focus of this recording superbly. Kenny Barron (piano), Dennis Irwin (bass), Steve Williams (drums), Reg Schwager (guitar tracks # 4, 7,9,10) and Igor Burtman (tenor sax on track #5) are exceptional accompaniment for Bob throughout this session.

“The Underdog” seems to be a self-assessment that relates back to my first comments about Bob’s career and lack of notoriety for his work. Moreover and appropriately, the album closes out with the musically poignant title track, which puts everything into proper perspective without the utterance of one syllable from the artist. The attentive listener can understand from where this sensitive and meaningful artistry comes from. The curtain closes making you feel the show should not be over, in fact, it feels it is just starting. What a beautiful ride you just went on and Bob Mover and his band provided some of the best jazz you have ever heard, so now what? Well the answer is sitting right in front of you, grab the CD and play it again because you will not fully realize the depth and importance of what this man is giving you until you hear it all repeatedly.

It Amazes Me is a solid jazz album with a mix of traditional and post bop with roots that reach far back, to when the jazz giants were all walking hand in hand down the road to glory’s end. It takes a lot to bring someone back that far and Mover accomplishes that with his ten tracks.

Artist: Bob Mover
Title: It Amazes Me
Genre: Jazz
Label: Zoho
Website
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Tracks:
01. How Little We Know
02. I Believe In You
03. The Underdog
04. (Tu Mi) Delirio
05. Erkin
06. Stairway to the Stars
07. Sometime Ago
08. Deep In A Dream
09. People Will Say We’re In Love
10. It Amazes Me

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

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