js Bob Reynolds is a jazz tenor saxophonist who is also well known in the pop, rock and RnB worlds through his work with many top stars, most notably his long running association with John Mayer. “Live at the Blue Whale” is part of a ‘bootleg’ series that Reynolds is posting on bandcamp for folks to download. Calling this a bootleg is only fair as the recording quality is a little rough, but the music is well worth checking out anyway. Reynolds and his crew play a modern sort of fusion that uses the riffs and sound of today’s indie rock scene, but then jams on those riffs much like a late 60s RnB based jazz-rocker. Reynold’s almost gospel sounding buildups can recall the classic 60s soul-jazz jams of Cannonball Adderly and Joe Zawinul, but updated with today’s indie rock sound.

“Live at Blue Whale” consists of two lengthy songs that use arrangements to keep things interesting. Reynold’s jazz based, yet melodic, soloing may recall David Sanborn, but he also cites Chris Potter and Joshua Redman as influences. Everyone in the band gets to take a ride and all the musicians are up for the task. This is spirited modern jam band music for fans of that kind of thing, sure the recording is a bit primitive, but that sort of fits the unpretentious nature of the music.