KRIS ADAMS & PETER PERFIDO, Away

A truly exquisite quartet album led by veteran jazz vocalist Kris Adams and storied, well- traveled international drummer Peter Perfido, Away has curious though quite fascinating origins as a tribute project to and showcasing the previously unrecorded compositions of a talented jazz guitarist named Michael O’Neil, a close friend and longtime collaborator of Perfido who passed away in 2016.

While he amassed an impressive resume, O’Neil had the odd fortune to have the same basic name as another, more renowned guitarist, Michael O’Neill, who has worked with hundreds of pop and jazz heavy hitters and has toured with George Benson for decades. So way is pretty much an homage to someone the average jazz fan has never heard of – and the dynamic, sensitively arranged set presented by Adams, Perfido, pianist Bob Degan and bassist André Buser will make listeners wish they had known about and heard more of O’Neil in his lifetime.

The guitarist left behind a treasure trove of vocal and instrumental tunes that the quartet brings to life in unique ways as the foundation of the 13-song, 63-minute set. Adam has a clear, beautiful and emotionally expressive voice, whether she’s singing actual lyrics (as on the dreamy ballad turned frisky opening swinger “Play” and the soulful, longing ballad “Summer Vacation”) or showcasing her otherworldly scat mastery – as she does marvelously on gems like the sensually elegant “Here,” the percussive, high spirited “Die Sehnsucht” and tender and haunting  “Anthem.”

The quartet complements the nine soul stirring O’Neil pieces with two pieces by legendary drummer Paul Motian (whom Degan performed with), another by Eric Schultz (“I Remember Albert,” a frenetic avant-garde piece which opens with a powerhouse minute long drum solo by Perfido) and a fascinating, hypnotic group improvisation appropriately titled “Free One.” Though it was O’Neil’s music that brought these four incredible talents together at a studio in Switzerland, listeners will no doubt hope that this isn’t their last thoughtfully rendered session.