Wolff & Clark Expedition is a pairing of two Jazz journeymen in Michael Wolff and Mike Clark as they explore the traditional Jazz standards and turn them on their ear with their own styles, as well as originals. With decades worth of experience between the two performers you can expect an albums worth of good stuff.

The album starts off with a cover of The Beatles’ Come Together. Growing up I was never that big a Beatles fan, but I did come to love this song when I saw the film A Bronx Tale. The song played over a bar fight scene making both extremely memorable. The song here is has the foundation of the original with a piano driven core, exuberant drums, and a funky bass groove that brings it all together. I really love how the piano work here just kind of spills along the surface of the track and on occasion and manages an off note sound that works.

Up next they tackle Cole Porter’s What Is This Thing Called Love. Wolff & Clark take this eternal Jazz standard and simply run with it. Drums and piano heading off on a lively thrilling stretch across the tune with bass holding the tempo. A bit in we find some individual solo’s which will have you tapping your toe and nodding your head in agreement, if these involuntary actions had not been in effect already.

Up next is Joe Zawinul’s Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, which I first heard on Cannonball Adderley’s Live At The Club. I love this song, but most of the time when it’s played it’s at too fast a tempo compared to that first version I grew up with. While this cover isn’t exactly as relaxed as that version it’s still pretty damn good. More Jazzy then the blues like version of the original but such a great jam track.

ARP is the first original track on the album having been written by Michael Wolff. Such a smooth track. Reminds me of Charlie Brown. Kudos to whoever decided to incorporate Jazz into those old Peanuts classics and gave kids the Jazz influence they never knew they were growing up on until they were adults. ARP is just a great light Jazz tune.

Is There A Jackson In The House which was written by the bands bass player Chip Jackson is another stand out track. Such a great jam tune that mixes Funk with Jazz and even a bit of Salsa. A key track for sure.

Overall the album manages to transcend just your traditional Jazz sentimentality by including so many facets that have broken off from Jazz and created whole new musical worlds. Groovy, funky, complex, relaxed, and sometimes a direction you weren’t expecting tossed in the middle. Well worth checking this one out. Enjoy.