The Larry Newcomb Quartet’s Love, Dad album opens with a swinging “You Stepped Out of a Dream,” journeys pleasantly through six of Newcomb’s engaging originals, presents a fresh take on “Secret Agent Man,” and closes with an up-tempo melodic romp through Jerome Kern’s “The Song is You.” A very solid jazz guitarist, Dr. Larry Newcomb has a fluid, vibrant style that conveys warmth and melodic integrity. He holds Masters and PhD degrees in music from the University of Florida. The rest of the quartet is Larry’s son Jake on bass, Thomas Royal on piano, and Dave Marsh on drums.

Originals like “Essential Messengers,” “Cliffhanger Blues,” “Soirée” and the title cut are splendidly arranged to provide each musician with plenty of opportunities for meaningful and expertly played musical discourse. Pianist Royal plays with an evocative touch on his keys, exhibiting a lot of character throughout the set’s many moods. I enjoyed his delicacy and restraint on the slower number, “Hearts in Suspension.” Jake Newcomb really shines on Oscar Pettiford’s 50s bebopper “Tricotism.” The sixties’ hit “Secret Agent Man” maintains the twangy guitar riff, but the quartet creatively reinvents the song with an Afro-Cuban groove in 6/8 time. Guitarist Larry Newcomb emphasizes evocative single note linear phrasing much in the style of the great unsung hero of jazz guitar Grant Green, but he also demonstrates proficiency in many other guitar techniques. His improvisations are tasty, tight and inventive. Love, Dad is a sweet guitar-centric jazz album with tonal purity, imagination and taste.   (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)