Parlor Greens’ sound fits right in with the other acts on Colemine’s ever-growing roster. Jazz, soul, funk, and all of their hyphenated fusions are the primary styles on In Green/We Dream (which is entirely instrumental), but the soul and funk elements tend to be foregrounded. The vibe is loose, relaxed, and upbeat, with some great interplay between Scone and James, particularly on the more uptempo tracks. Carman’s dynamic drumming glues it all together, laying down steady grooves and fills without being overly showy.
The band had never played together before setting up in Colemine’s Portage Lounge studio, but you wouldn’t know it from the results. There’s undeniable chemistry at work in the album’s 11 tracks, all of which are originals except for the closing cover of George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord.” Scone’s fingers light up the keyboard, his funky runs and chord stabs creating audio sparks that James and Carman fan into flames. If I have one complaint about the album it’s that James seems a little under-utilized, but he does get a chance to shine on most tracks to at least some degree. Carman, meanwhile, shows off his range from track to track, moving effortlessly between jazzy soul numbers and deep funk grooves.
Fans of any of the members’ other projects will find plenty to love on In Green / We Dream, but anyone who appreciates the classic soul jazz combos of the 60s and 70s (Jimmy Smith, Grant Green) or instrumental soul and funk (Booker T. & The M.G.’s, The Meters) should also give it a listen.
In Green / We Dream is such a consistent listen that it’s hard to single out specific highlights. That said, opening salvo “Driptorch” kicks things off with a high-energy blast of instrumental funk, and the title track keeps the momentum going with its soul-jazz swagger. “Parlor Strut” leaves space for each of the players to get their groove on, while tracks like “Sugar Maple”, “Flowers For Sharon”, and “My Sweet Lord” provide the album with some variety by switching up time signatures or adding some minor-key touches.
Simon Workman
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