Gordon Goodwin’s Little Phat Band - An Elusive Man (2016) [HDtracks]

By the name and sound of things, Gordon Goodwin seems to have followed the trend of most Californians and gone on a Paleo or Whole 30 diet, as his Big Phat Band has slimmed down to a more lithe and flexible “Big Little Band” on this recording. The high protein, low carb team is down to Wayne Bergeron/tp, Eric Marienthal/ts-as, Andy Martin/tb, Andrew Synowiec/g, Rich Shaw/b, Bernie Dresel/dr and Joey De Leon/prc teaming up with the svelte Goodwin on piano and tenor.
The Goodwin touch made famous on his Big Phat Band is still prevalent here, with “Garaje Gato” borrowed from the bigger unit and is a percussive delight for Dresel. The patented punctuated horns are full display as they jab behind Marienthal’ alto on “Cot in the Act” and Goodwin’s signature mix of Warner Brothers cartoons and Memphis blues is displayed during his wrestling match on tenor with Marienthal’s alto on the frenetic title piece.
Besides putting his signature sound on a breezy piece by “Samba Cya” with Synowiec’s guitar, Goodwin gooses up a couple jazz standards. Bergeron goes bel canto over Goodwin’s soufflé of a piano on “In A Sentimental Mood” while the band shuffles in Bass Weejuns on a hip “Walkin’” as Bergeron and Goodwin flex their toned muscles.
Lighter, quicker and with more pep, as most people are after dropping a few, this band is a nice break, and shows a different side of the Goodwin’s skills.
As for the album’s title, Goodwin reveals, “It is a reference to people we all know who go through life in fear and hide behind their jobs, their sense of humor or even their skill sets, but never really reveal much about themselves. They present a public persona, often a well-crafted one, but we never get to see who they are inside.”