With “How About You?,” bassist Jeff Dingler delivers a quietly confident instrumental jazz album that finds fresh perspective in familiar territory. Built around a classic guitar–bass–drums trio, the record revisits well-known standards and a handful of bop-oriented pieces, but reframes the upright bass as a melodic, leading voice rather than a supportive one.
The instrumentation is deliberately lean, and that sparseness becomes one of the album’s strengths. Dingler’s upright bass sits at the center of the sound, frequently stating
themes, shaping transitions, and carrying solos with a lyrical, almost vocal phrasing.
Guitarist Tom Dempsey works less as a dominant front-line soloist and more as a conversational partner, alternating between warm comping, single-note counterlines, and understated harmonic commentary. Drummer Joe Brown Jr. completes the trio with taste and restraint, allowing the music to breathe naturally.
https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/4XDBBJwRGqcLJrGw6BsjLh
Production choices reinforce the album’s intimate character. The recording is warm and uncluttered, with an emphasis on acoustic detail rather than studio polish. Guitar and drums are placed slightly behind the bass in the mix, creating a sense of depth that mirrors the trio’s musical hierarchy.
As an instrumental jazz record, How About You? succeeds by valuing interaction and nuance over sheer virtuosity. The arrangements avoid gimmicks, relying instead on shifts in role, texture, and pacing to keep the standards engaging.
Several tracks stand out for how effectively they illustrate this approach. The title track, “How About You?,” sets the tone early, with Dingler’s bass confidently outlining the melody while the guitar and drums provide buoyant support. “Embraceable You” emerges as one of the album’s emotional highlights, stretching out into a spacious, reflective ballad where the bass sings with patience and warmth. On the up-tempo side, “Dewey Square” brings a sharper, bebop-inflected edge, showcasing the trio’s rhythmic precision and collective swing.
https://jeffdingler.hearnow.com/
Ultimately, How About You? is a record that rewards careful listening. Its pleasures are subtle rather than immediate, rooted in tone, balance, and conversation. For listeners drawn to intimate, thoughtfully arranged instrumental jazz, this album makes a strong and quietly persuasive statement.