Tom Hemby and Pat Coil - Songs After Midnight

There’s a deep groove going on between the musicians that ebbs and flows...

Songs After Midnight

Tom Hemby and Pat Coil  

Label: Green Hill Records

13 tracks / 62:57

There’s music that’s designed to make you want to move your body, music designed to manipulate you emotionally, music that is intended to provoke, excite, or even to incite action. Songs After Midninght, the new instrumental project by Tom Hemby and Pat Coil, is primarily about music – music being played very, very well. Along with the ubiquitous session players Tom Hemby (guitar, chromatic Harmonica, percussion) and Pat Coil (piano, synths), the legendary bassist John Patitucci and world-class drummer Vinnie Colaiuta round out a group with monumental musical chops. The thirteen original compositions (six by Coil, seven by Hemby) are jazzy and smooth, occasionally breaking through the smoothness with some jarringly captivating solos. You would expect no less from this stellar quartet whose combined output literally covers the musical spectrum from A to Z – more specifically, from Amy to Zappa.

“Music for grownups but you need the heart of a child to swim in it.” That was my first reaction to hearing some of this music. I wasn’t even sure what I meant by that at the time, but now – after listening to the whole project a few times – I think I get it. There’s a deep groove going on between the musicians that ebbs and flows. Full disclosure: part of my listening time I was immersed in a semi-euphoric COVID fog – maybe that helped me to let go of my desire to try to understand what was happening and just enjoy the ride. For some fans such as myself, who are not really musically literate, the finer points of what goes on in jazz might not be understood - but it certainly can be enjoyed. It’s the old ‘try to describe what a banana tastes like to someone who’s never tasted a banana’ problem. Just let me taste it – and this music is mighty tasty. Can I analyze and dissect these thirteen tracks intelligently? No way. But I can tell you a few things I wrote down in my notes…

The first three songs are by Pat Coil and are smooth jazz compositions: dusky, melodic, with notes gliding through the air and beautiful interplay with subtle work by Hemby, Patitucci and Colaiuta. Of course Tom Hemby is a guitarist’s guitarist – a true master of the instrument in any genre – but for those who haven’t heard Hemby’s harmonica work, “Song For a Friend” will be a revelation. I thought, “if Toots Thielmans and Stevie Wonder had a baby…” (remember, I had COVID at the time…)

The Latin-grooved “Midnight in Rio” is the first of Hemby’s compositions and also the only track with a guest player (Mike Hodden on Flugelhorn). The entire group excels and Coil’s piano solo is particularly beautiful. Hemby’s guitar solo is lyrical, fluid, and mesmerizing. Wistful, smoky, dreamy, with a melody that flows from the guitar, Hemby’s “When I Think of You” features intricate conversation between the guitar and keyboard with a backdrop of synth. The five-note motif seems to ‘speak’ the title when it comes to the fore. The tender “Harlequin Moonlight” is a study of guitar, harmonica and subtle piano accompaniment, a contrast to the following track, “Touch the Sky,” a fiery, jazz-fusion barn burner of a song. Bass-nerds – this is the one you’ve been waiting for! Not just Pattitucci, but the whole band gets their time to break out and jam here. Listen for the amazing guitar-only break and the guitar/piano interplay that follows. “Always and Forever” is a nice ensemble ballad with some notable drum work from Vinnie Colaiuta, especially at the end.

Coil’s “Imagine That” is a fine piece of Contemporary Adult oriented jazz with a very accessible lead motif that could have easily been used as a TV show theme in the late 70s. There’s efficient, articulate playing by all, including some very impressive drum breaks and acoustic bass moments. The mid-tempo, refreshing very ‘up’ “Road Dreams” features excellent ensemble playing and stand-out harmonica and guitar solos.

We get another dose of jazz fusion with Hemby’s “Reach For It,” an up-tempo composition with intricate bass runs, propulsive, melodic guitar solos and truly stunning drum breaks at the end (think Steely Dan’s “Aja”) – all underpinned and augmented by brilliant piano work by Pat Coil.  This is followed by two gentle compositions to close the album: Coil’s beautifully melodic “Inside” and Hemby’s “At the End of the Day,” a sweet melody bathed in ‘orchestral strings’ and evoking the album’s title in its tranquil feel.

Beautifully produced by Hemby and Coil, Songs After Midnight is one of those albums that is simply great to listen to, especially if you can sit with it and let the music wash over you. These four men have provided that After Midnight vibe for you to enjoy any time of the night or day.

And I’m pretty sure it can help you get through COVID, too.

Bert Saraco

You can see Bert Saraco’s concert photography at: www.facebook.com/express.image