Accidentally Yours by Jay Thomas, Wataru Hamasaki with Geoffrey Keezer Trio

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Sunday, May 15, 2005 - Page updated at 12:00 a.m.
CD Reviews
Jay Thomas and friends
By Paul de Barros
Seattle Times jazz critic

"Accidentally Yours," Jay Thomas and Wataru Hamasaki with the Geoffrey Keezer Trio, McVouty Records, $15
A few years ago, Seattle jazz ace Jay Thomas, who often plays in Japan, discovered a talented teenage tenor player named Wataru Hamasaki. A few years later, Hamasaki came over to Seattle and recorded "Accidentally Yours" with Thomas and pianist Geoffrey Keezer's trio. If solid-grooving, hard bop played at the highest level is your thing, make this one yours, not accidentally, but on purpose.
Thomas plays trumpet, flugelhorn and soprano sax with cool authority, negotiating the harmonies with relaxed abandon on a nice variety of tunes by Hamasaki, Keezer, Jessica Williams and others. A stone bopper who plays with momentum and drive, lately, Thomas is sounding a bit like Miles — with a warm sound, kissing or falling off the ends of his phrases.
Keezer's ferocious, percussive clarity is infectious on the title tune and the shuffling opener. "No Fun Intended" stretches into nicely noisy, conversational improv and Thomas' wife, vocalist Becca Duran, adds texture with a wordless vocal on Jay's "Kinnickinick." Drummer Jon Wikan contributes the flowing "Tony's Tune" and kicks the band throughout.

Tracklist

1.	For a Change	5:09

2.	A Whole New You	4:27

3.	Tony's Town	8:48

4.	No Fun Intended	6:42

5.	Time Out of Time	4:04

6.	Accidentally Yours	5:26

7.	Kinnickinick	5:30

8.	Free Verse	7:14

9.	Malibu Party	4:58

10.	Crossroads	7:21

11.	Joy	2:16

12.	Pease Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone	4:37

Credits

released May 5, 2004

Jay Thomas (trumpet, flugelhorn & soprano saxophone); Wataru Hamasaki (tenor saxophone); Geoffrey Keezer (piano); Matt Clohesy (bass); Jon Wikan (drums); Becca Duran (vocal on #7)

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