Wonderbread by Brian Ward

“What Can I Do?” … Borrows a little sumthin’, sumthin’ from the school of Richard Tee, and please keep in mind Ward does this without mimicking Mr. Tee’s sound. Yes, brother Brian represents by delivering a delectable Gospel inspired down home tune with a touch of jazz.

Brian admits to striving to discover various cultures musically, the next piece “She Ain’t” as he sees it is the only track that’s true in tradition jazz on his debut. This track also features Reinhardt Melaz with a marveling drum solo.

Once you hear the next selection “Baby Girl,” you’ll immediately discover the influence of another great composer and master keyboardist George Duke. Oh yeah, the Duke vibe is definitely written into the script of this jewel features a very talented bassist named Willy Barber.

“Move On,” drops in a the five spot with the cool sensation of an classic R&B groove covered by it’s foundation Gospel. Ward’s fearless approach to the composition on the Hammond B3 and Rhodes are on point.

Brian takes on the first of two covers with his treatment of Patti LaBelle’s “If Only You Knew,” features vocalist Priscilla DeVold. I’ll give Ms. DeVold lots of love for daring to tackle this classic by LaBelle. Ironically, Brian decides to cover a unique piece by Stevie Wonder titled “Ngiculela.” Yeah, I dig this one! It's laced with a luscious Bossa Nova flavor.

At the eighth spot Ward and company switches gears with a phat and sassy fusion groove suitably titled “Pound Cake.” The ensemble delivers the goods by digging deep into the legacy of its preprocessors in jazz-fusion to nail this jewel.

Fender Rhodes lovers will simply adore this project by Ward, the next cut “Stellar Optics” taps into the core of fusion. Nothing superficial here, this further exemplifies why music of this caliber is in high demand these days.

On the next selection Ward’s focus turns to the Latin inspired title track “Wonderbread,” its layered with a near perfect dose of Mambo therefore making it one of the most vibrant tracks on the recording.

“Morning Walk,” was originally written as an interlude for Church. And yes, it does feel like a warm and easygoing Sunday morning spiritual vibe. In fact, this composition showcases Brian’s melodic voice on piano.

On a personal note, this is undisputedly pure contemporaryjazz. This solid playing and livid skill set by Brian Ward and his ensemble is without a doubt memorable. I’m thankful for the opportunity to meet the music of Brian Ward. From the first spin on “Wonderbread,” it’s evident without reading liner notes you get the idea this guy is all about music, which is rare these days. Brian Ward’s music is real, straight from the heart and soul of a man who loves playing music.

Rob Young- contemporaryjazz.com

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