Toph-E & The Pussycats
No Ordinary Day
M’Bubba Music 10052
www.chrisparkerdrums.com
By George W. Harris

The decade old band Toph-E & The Pussycats is one of the last of a sadly rare breed-an ensemble that stays together, and actually turns out jazz that is modern, yet accessible without devolving into “smooth” or flailing into the Netherlands. Drummer Chris Parker, who paid his dues with the Brecker Brothers, knows how to keep it in the pocket, yet allow guys like David Mann/sax and Clifford Carter/p to stretch out, while Grammy winner Ralph MacDonald/perc and Will Lee keep things chugging along. Their last release, Live In Detroit, was a nice ditty, and this one which, except for Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage” (done very nicely, indeed) are all originals, fairly evenly divided by all. Tunes like the infectious “Pussyfoot” and “Un Nuevo Mundo” have grooves that you can’t shake loose, and Mann handles the soloing just right. R&B, bop and a nice slick backbeat are the call here, and it works nicely. Can’t go wrong here, with a disc that is a rare bird, indeed.