‘Fired Up’ is the latest album from smooth jazz stalwarts PIECES OF A DREAM. Incredibly, it’s the outfit’s 25th long player and after a COVID imposed hiatus, the band are raring to go! Drummer Curtis Harmon says: “We are committed, determined and fully prepared to get back in the groove again” and across the 10 tracker there are plenty of groove heavy tunes that typify the Pieces Of A Dream sound.
The team set that stall out right from the start with the opener, ‘In Too Deep’ – a classic, soul based up-tempo, smooth jazz workout with fierce interplay between the keys and the sax .There’s more of the same on ‘Livin’ The Life’, ‘Just Do It’ (which features young, multi-instrumental, Justin Lee Schultz) ‘Gettin’ Through It’ and the LP’s title track.
There are some sweet laid back moments too – the gentle ‘Ear Candy’, the late night lounge-flavoured ‘Smoothing Out’ and the laid back ‘It’s A Vibe’ amongst them.
With a 40 odd year career behind them the band’s core (Curtis Harmon and pianist James Lloyd) know exactly what their fans want. On ‘Fired Up’ they deliver! The album’s out now on Shanachie Records.
