David Finck’s BASSic Instinct is no doubt based on his natural desire to present some fine jazz to demonstrate his eclectic tastes, writing skills, and arrangements ranging from just bowed bass and piano (“Seascape”) to an octet with vocalist (“So What”). He also offers plenty of arrangements for trios and quartets. Bassist Finck always provides a very solid low end, along with solos, that lay in nicely with guitar, drums and piano. Guitarist Bob Mann provides some sweet chord voicings and single note linearity on a swinging “I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You),” “Theme From Mannix,” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain.” Tedd Firth’s piano is in the spotlight of the trio arrangement of “The Best Thing For You (Would Be Me).” Other tracks offer varied and enjoyable colorings, such as Andy Snitzer’s tenor sax on “Dearly Beloved,” Laura Conwesser’s flute on “Joy,” Kevin Winard’s percussion and Meg Ruby’s piano on ”Tico Tico,” and vocalists featured on “Bateu Levou / Who’s Wrong Or Right,” “So What,” and “I Remember.”

While the musicians may have natural abilities and tendencies that bring these songs to life, a lot of thought obviously went into planning the various settings for the tracks to let the music’s soul come through. It’s all about the groove that lets the music become a larger thing with its own energy and momentum.  David Finck is a talented bassist who seems comfortable in straight jazz, Broadway and chamber-like settings. Based in New York, Finck has about four decades of performing and recording such acclaimed albums as his Future Day in 2008, Low Standards in 2017, Bassically Jazz in 2019, and now BASSic Instinct in 2021. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)