What are the Odds?

Review of “What Are The Odds?”

by Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/historian

Guitarist Dennis Winge has certainly had a wide-ranging career. Currently he leads a jazz ensemble, a rock cover group, a blues band, an electric chant group, a Steely Dan cover band, and a duo with flute, in addition to playing unaccompanied solos. His recent double-CD, his sixth instrumental set as a leader, is filled with creative jazz and displays his versatility along with plenty of surprises yet has a strong unity.

What Are The Odds consists of 18 of the guitarist’s originals. Winge and his trio with bassist August Bish and drummer Kevin Cheli is joined by Rob Weinberger (doubling on alto-sax and Irish flute) and flutist Michele Gordon for four numbers apiece including one (“Up Every 24 Blues”) that includes both of the guests. Immediately apparent when listening to this enjoyable set is that Winge has an original sound on his guitar, there is a lot of variety, and the musicians are quite skilled at playing in unusual time signatures; Bish and Cheli sound effortless and inspired during both their attentive accompaniment and concise solos. The trio is quite tight with consistently close interplay between the musicians even when they essay tricky rhythmic pieces.

The set begins with the happily funky “Move Over” which is in 7/4 time. “Ses Vier” sounds like it is Eastern European in its melody and rhythms while “Lid Flipping” is high-quality fusion with Winge utilizing a rockish sound. “Khanda Blues,” which has fine flute playing from Michele Gordon, is a blues but the eccentric rhythmic accents keep it from ever being predictable. “She Is Free” is a particularly strong and moving ballad with lyrical guitar and bowed bass while “5 & 9 Go To 4’s House” has a title that refers to the time signatures which shift regularly throughout the piece. “Mambo Delicoso” sounds like classic Brazilian jazz and the relatively relaxed “Window Shopping” (in 15/16 time) takes listeners on a leisurely journey before the boppish “Let’s Fly” closes the first half with an uptempo romp that includes Weinberger on alto.

The quality, variety and momentum do not slow down during the second half of What Are The Odds. “Monkey Cage” is danceable to those who can do a foxtrot in 9/8 time. The group sounds particularly tight during the fusionish “Third Teen.” “Celtic Reverie” could easily pass for song from Ireland with its melody and flute; Winge contributes a bluesy solo. “Duelism” displays plenty of energy and agility while “Middle Earth’s Cry” has a lengthy and atmospheric theme that could be used for meditation before the improvising becomes explorative. “Snowfall Romance” has particularly fluent jazz guitar playing with the trio. “The Nardisian” has a fiery Spanish groove that is a little reminiscent of Chick Corea’s “Spain” but develops its own themes along the way. The program concludes with the quirky but catchy “Maravillosa” and “Up Every 24 Blues” which features the full quintet.

What Are The Odds displays some of the many musical sides of Dennis Winge, a talented guitarist-composer who is well worth discovering.

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