Joe Fonda Quintet 11/3/17 Firehouse 12

Bandleader and standup bass player Fonda had to explain that his quintet became a quartet when his female piano player broke a finger and was unable to make the trip to the Firehouse. The unusual makeup of the group was intriguing. Fonda on bass and sometimes flute, drums, French horn, and bassoon were the four. French horn and bassoon are rarely heard in a jazz format, and these two players were capable and worked well with one another. Fonda and the drummer were also simpatico and gave the feeling of a two on two quartet. Bowed bass led into a frantic plucked solo that was buoyed by the interplay of bassoon and horn. The group "unplugged" for "My Song", which was great and gave a good feel for the traditional timbre of both bassoon and French horn. Fonda's deft soloing swayed from gypsy groove to straight ahead workouts. Hugging his bass like an Armenian dad at the first dance of his daughter's wedding, Fonda jumped and rolled through the set. Excellent tune "Cornell" payed homage to the venerable Dr. West was a highlight.