In the Moment in Bloomington, MN

Core and founding members
James Lloyd
and
Curtis Harmon
refer to
In the Moment
as the 20th
Pieces of a Dream
album. Instead of hosting a guest-filled blowout, they keep it simple with familiar associates, guitarist
Rohn Lawrence
, saxophonist
Tony Watson Jr.
, and bassist
David Dyson
. The duo also receive a little assistance from a handful of additional musicians, including
Shanachie
label stalwart
Chris "Big Dog" Davis
. An all-instrumental set apart from some talkbox on "New Jazz Swing,"
features a handful of cuts that should remain in the group's live repertoire for years. "Steppers 'D' Lite" and "TTYL (I'm Driving)," two of the album's most energized songs, combine live instrumentation and programmed rhythms with as much finesse as anything from their '80s releases.
Dyson
's bass and
Lloyd
's piano shine brightest on "For Real," one of several typically melodic ballads, while
Lawrence
is showcased throughout "Never Let It End," where he provides a pair of graceful lines. This is another modest, kicked-back release from the group. ~ Andy Kellman