Fine contemporary jazz from Fortune Vinson Cruse
J. Levinson | Media, PA USA | 11/06/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This CD features neither Sonny Fortune or Eddie Vinson, but rather the Philly-based jazz trio Fortune Vinson Cruse, consisting of Dennis Fortune on keyboards, Pete Vinson on drums, and Michael Cruse on bass. It's quite unlikely that the harmonically advanced post-bopper Sonny Fortune and jump-bluesman Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson ever played together, though Dennis Fortune could be related to Sonny, since they're both from Philly. Another local Philly talent, bassist Charles Fambrough, produced and guests on this mainstream jazz recording.Dennis Fortune uses electric piano mostly, and Michael Cruse plays aggressive electric bass, pushing the sound of this group towards jazz fusion or smooth-jazz turf, yet the grooves and the playing are interesting enough to reward careful listening."