Review

"Drummer Craig Pilo is kept busy via his concert tours with pop and rock icons Frankie Valli and Edgar Winter. Yet this jazz-fusion studio date signifies an insightful glimpse into his enviable chops and overall musicality. With an attractive blend of originals, jazz standards, and pieces by Trane and Freddie Hubbard, the drummer generates pop, zip and fluid movement throughout. Featuring veteran session artists such as keyboardist Mitchel Forman, bassist Tom Kennedy and others, the various lineups convey a tightly-organized and thoroughly, in-the-pocket chemistry. Constructed upon largely, melodic pieces and groove-oriented rhythmic maneuvers, Forman s Fender Rhodes piano work serves as the axis on several tracks. They execute a mid-tempo, Latin-jazz spin on Autumn Leaves, while projecting a contempo jazz outlook with saxophonist Roman Dudok s appearance on various works. On Hubbard s modern jazz classic Red Clay, the saxophonist judiciously improvises within the primary melody, firmed-up by Pilo s solid and throttling backbeats. Kennedy renders a literal reading of Jaco Pastorius Teen Town, as the trio s interpretation of Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, surfaces as a dreamy ballad, spiced-up with a distinct edge. No frills or revelations here! It s more about a consortium of top-caliber musicians infusing their broad music vernaculars into a potpourri of jazz-tinged works that intimate a jubilant state-of-affairs. Everything seems to click rather naturally here." --Glenn Astarita EJazz News

"A highly dynamic jazz fusion atmosphere filled with positive energy. "Just Play" showcases the work of an experimented musician whose bold personality is evident throughout the album. There are many wonderful sequences of vigorous, colorful jamming not to mention the excellent bass and organ grooves that make the music float around. Among the highlights "Early Cynical Mystery" one of the originals, brings a breeze from the "Return to Forever" years and Coltrane's "Miles Mode" here cleverly arranged by Craig Pilo. An entertaining album of great clarity and power for fusion enthusiasts." --Jazz World Quest

"I m betting you ll be happy with the playing Craig and the band lay down on this disc. Simply outstanding jazz, crisply recorded from a lengthy all-star cast. Appearing on the tracks I m playing are Mitchel Forman and Ed Czach with some truly blistering Fender Rhodes work, Burt Samolis, Keith Hubacher, Jim King, Tom Kennedy and David Enos each on some equally blistering bass lines, Roman Dudok on sax, with Pilo keeping the rhythm locked and loaded and filled with particularly tasty cymbal work." --- FusionGroovin