With a lineup of Boston area musicians including numerous Berklee faculty members past and present, as well as other experienced recording artists, The Dedham Jazz Project sets some high standards. Luckily, Craig Hlady and Friends do not disappoint, and the band’s new album is a solid collection of traditional small combo jazz.
Many of the numbers are in a typical laidback lounge style, featuring simple but memorable heads, expanded upon by solo improvisations that are impressive without resorting to inappropriate pyrotechnics. In keeping with the best of the tradition, the songs establish moods evocative of their titles without the benefit of lyrics. The very opening of the album provides three solid examples of this in “6:04 p.m.,” “Strollin Down the Avenue” and “Beautiful Silence.”
Instrumentation varies throughout the album, at times providing subtle textural variations and at others creating more disparate sounds. Still, the variations fit well within a cohesive whole; The Dedham Jazz Project plays like an album and not like a compilation.
“Take the Wes Bound Lane” departs only slightly from the preceding tracks with the inclusion of the Hammond B3 organ, creating a slightly more modern edge, appropriate to the title. It is followed by the more obviously dissimilar “Snowflakes on my Windowsill,” the sole vocal track, on which Rebecca Parris is absolutely captivating, exercising an easy command of her throaty, velvet voice. Other notable variations include “Enchanted Forest,” in which Hlady’s acoustic guitar almost sounds like a mandolin as it intertwines with the cello, and “Fourway Street,” which has a noisier feel, replete with disjointed rhythm work and more aggressive soloing, especially Les Arbuckle’s tenor sax.
Craig Hlady and Friends deliver the goods; there is not a bad track on The Dedham Jazz Project. Not only an eminently enjoyable listening experience, the record also promotes the worthwhile cause of music education, with partial proceeds going to aid programs in the town of Dedham, from whence many of the musicians hail.
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After listening to music this good, it's a wonderment why there aren't more local clubs supporting it.  Jazz guitarist Craig Hlady is a contemporary six- stringer that maintains much of the roots and traditions that influenced him.  On his latest release, The Dedham Jazz Project, Hlady teams up with a venerable collection of who's who on the Boston Jazz scene.  What's especially cool is that all 15 songs are originals penned by Hlady, drummer Matt Gordy or pianist Norbert Kael, so from song to song you get a real good feel of Hlady and the band's compositional style and  arranging skills.  It's truly top shelf stuff and a CD you'll have to make a point of checking out for yourself. Outstanding!
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