This month’s column features the first locally made jazz CD to be added to the Co-op’s album collection, the title of which: “You Guys From Around Here?” is a frequent question entertained by this enduring and fabulously talented group of local musicians. Another question might be, what’s with the three-named quartet? Don’t be misled, these guys can count - really well - it’s just that there are actually two Doziers, Dick and Dody, on bass and keyboards, respectively. Joined by Dave Jarvis on drums in 1978, the Dozier Jarvis Trio played for 20 years before being augmented by Horace Alexander Young on flute, saxophone, and vocals to become the present DJY Quartet. So, you see, it all adds up, and the result is a hard-swinging, crowd-pleasing gamut of jazz entertainment.

DJYQ is a beloved regular attraction at Rico’s in Pullman, which is where I went to experience their music live. At Rico’s and on the album, Dody trades off between electronic keyboards and piano, and Dick alternates between electric and upright bass. Such instrument changes parallel the range of genres represented on the album, spanning traditional and contemporary jazz, from Ellington to Linus and Lucy. The latter is a delightful arrangement by Dody, which she created in response to audience requests. As much as the listening, I enjoy watching the subtle nonverbal cues the musicians exchange as solos are passed and musical moods shift. After a well-timed and soulful rendition of “The Wee Small Hours of the Morning,” the band begins to disassemble their gear and the members graciously let me ask them about the intersection of their musical paths.

What keeps this cool convergence centered on the Palouse? Maybe the first track on the CD, “Homecoming,” provides a hint. Listen to the compelling breaths of the saxophone and the lighthearted romp of keys. Like a lot of the tracks on this CD, the mood here is exuberant and positive. Longtime Moscow residents, Dick is a retired UI English professor and Dody teaches piano from her private studio. Dave and Horace are both faculty members of the WSU School of Music. The geographic range of the group’s impact and musical endeavors extends well beyond the Palouse, but this is their home. You’ll see a familiar and happy sight on the album cover: a view of Moscow Mountain from the Airport Road.

The positive attitude reflected by the selections on this CD is not surprising when you consider that the initial incarnation of the Dozier Duo was a novice band that started playing out with a seven-song set list. DJYQ now swings a wide musical swath across the jazz landscape. You can hear standards such as “On Green Dolphin Street,” an original tune “Samba for the Children” by Dave Jarvis, and another Latin number “Estamos” which will make you want to form a Conga line. The CD flaunts Horace’s flute- and sax-playing and Dody’s fast-flying fingers on keyboard, punctuated by rhythm solos from Dick and Dave. Throughout the album, you can hear the fun the band is having, as Dody flirts with different keyboard voices - strings, vibes, and horns, while Horace exudes melodic and vocal texture. I love “Pipes of Pandora,” with Dody playing pan flutes via keyboard. The sax wanders through this tune on goat legs accompanied by thrumming bass, while the percussion trades off with Pan and Sax. “Dat Dere” features Horace on vocals in a childlike voice in a tune to be appreciated by parents of loquacious, curious kids. Listening to the CD again and reflecting on the performance at Rico’s, I am struck by how well the album captures the freshness of live jazz, the “esprit de corps kinda thing,” as Horace calls it. Horace has several other CDs and has played with a long list of musical greats such as B. B. King, Milt Hinton, and Toots Thielemans. Dave plays timpani for the Washington-Idaho symphony, and is the Principal Percussionist for the Oregon Coast Music Festival. Both teach composition at WSU as well.

This wonderful first CD by our longstanding local jazz treasures is a treat for the ears and the heart. I also highly recommend hearing the band at Rico’s, and if you do, could you please give me a ride?