K Quintet: “Something Else” (2019) CD Review

K Quintet is a jazz group that was formed last summer by the husband and wife team of bassist David Duffy and singer Ksenia Parkhatskaya (the latter known for her skills as a dancer as well as vocalist). The group also consists of Gabriel Armagant on tenor saxophone, Juan Mar Saque on trumpet, Marc Martin on piano, and Xavi Hinojsa on drums. Joining them on a few tracks of the group’s debut album, Something Else, are Carlos Sarduy Dimet on trumpet, and Jake Klamberg on drums. The album contains a mix of some classic tunes and original compositions that have a delightfully classic and cool vibe. I am surprised by how many instrumental tracks are on this CD, considering a vocalist co-founded this group and co-wrote much of the original material. But then again, in live performances, the idea is to combine music and dance.

Something Else gets off to an excellent start with “Exactly Like You,” written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields. Ksenia Parkhatskaya delivers such a sweet and cheerful and wonderful vocal performance, that my spirits are instantly raised (no mean feat in these frightening days). Plus, this rendition features some really nice work on piano, including a great lead section, which is then followed by an excellent lead on trumpet. This is one of the tracks to feature both Carlos Sarduy Dimet on trumpet and Jake Klamberg on drums. That’s followed by “The Letter,” an original tune composed by David Duffy and Ksenia Parkhatskaya (not a cover of The Box Tops’ song). This is a delightful and catchy instrumental tune with a great rhythm, a track that gets better and better, those lead sections being tremendous fun. I particularly love that saxophone. We even get a cool lead on bass toward the end. David Duffy gives us another excellent lead on bass on the group’s rendition of Henry Mancini’s “Days Of Wine And Roses.” This is a sweet rendition that has a relaxed bit of swing to it, a track which should help to ease our stress.

“Bye Bye Blackbird” opens with Ksenia’s bright vocals supported by just a bit of percussion, which is very cool. Then the other musicians come in, and while there is some lovely stuff from the horns, it is Ksenia’s voice that really sets the tone on this track. There is a sweet joy to her voice that seems capable of gently ushering all troubles out the door. This is another of the tracks to feature Carlos Sarduy Dimet on trumpet and Jake Klamberg on drums. That’s followed by “Ain’t It Peculiar,” another original composition (not to be confused with “Ain’t That Peculiar”), an instrumental track that begins with some seriously cool stuff on piano and a rhythm that should make you smile. This one gets livelier as it goes, and includes a brief drum solo. It is one of my favorite tracks, mostly because of Marc Martin’s work on piano. It’s followed by another of my favorites, “Something Else,” the album’s title track, written by David Duffy. It’s an original tune, but it certainly has a familiar vibe to it. Again, there is something really cool and slinky about this music, and something particularly sexy about this track, with that bass line, but especially because of the horns. There is a sexy confidence behind the playing, like the instruments know they can play you right into bed, and so are in no hurry. This album often feels like it could be playing in a Godard film. You know?

John Duffy gets the group’s rendition of “Just Squeeze Me (But Don’t Tease Me)” off to a good start on bass, and then Ksenia’s vocals come in. This is so damn delicious, the two of them able to hold you in the palms of their hands. The rest of the musicians soon join them. This is my favorite vocal performance on the album. There is something both sensuous and playful about it. She sings “Just squeeze me/But please don’t tease me,” but it sounds like she herself will be doing the teasing. Ah, let’s see what the trumpet has to say about it. This is the last of the tracks to feature Carlos Sarduy Dimet on trumpet and Jake Klamberg on drums. It is followed by “My Major Is Minor,” an original tune written by David Duffy and Ksenia Parkhatskaya. This one has a sly, delightful vibe, and with a title like “My Major Is Minor,” it seems like an instant standard. I love the saxophone. That’s followed by the album’s final original tune, “Drivin’,” composed by David Duffy and Ksenia Parkhatskaya, a lively number with some playful touches. We then get a nice rendition of the Rodgers and Hart song “Have You Met Miss Jones,” led by Marc Martin on piano. This track also features a totally enjoyable lead on bass. The album then concludes with “Robbins’ Nest,” written by pianist Charles Thompson. This has another seriously cool groove. This album is full of delicious grooves, gently swinging numbers that should help to lessen our anxiety.

CD Track List

1. Exactly Like You
2. The Letter
3. Days Of Wine And Roses
4. Bye Bye Blackbird
5. Ain’t It Peculiar
6. Something Else
7. Just Squeeze Me
8. My Major Is Minor
9. Drivin’
10. Have You Met Miss Jones
11. Robbins’ Nest 

Something Else was released on December 20, 2019.