Album Notes

Bowl and Bunns is comprised of Cincinnati Jazz giants King “Bowl” Reeves and Charlie “Bunns” Wilson. Super Bad is a collection of deceptively simple piano and vibe duets and it is a surprisingly engaging fare. Reeves and Wilson conjure complex chord clusters throughout the disc, even ringing a rough edge out of a Grover Washington tune. Reeve’s is understated and tasteful when stating a melody. But when he launches into a solo, his vibes are suddenly bubbling, unpredictable and sparkling with spontaneity like a pretty woman’s laughter. On the piano, Charlie Wilson is a masterful yet untethered technician whose extended improvisations are wildly adventurous. He regularly deconstructs the key and rhythm of a tune, his hands wandering feverishly across the breadth of the keyboard, unrestricted by rules, theory or expectations. Reeves and Wilson’s original compositions are provocative and strong, holding up quite well alongside some familiar and well-executed standards by Horace Silver, Thelonious Monk and others. Over the years, these two highly accomplished gentlemen have played with some of the best. And now the sum of their experiences flows freely through their hands, spilling forth with a glowingly positive life force that is immediately apparent even on first listen (Review: Ric Hickey, City Beat Magazine,2005).