Live Music: Red Umber

Red Umber’s jazz style is warm and velvety with a pop-friendly sensibility that swerves into the mainstream. A quartet built around strong musicianship, Dustin Jennings takes a lyrical approach that’s closer to a vocalist than a bebop horn player with melodic hooks instead of dense improvisation. His grooves fit nicely in the pocket blending with Andy Lemaire’s expressive electric guitar and a gifted rhythm section steered by bassist Keith Taylor and drummer Jeff Wade. The music carries a mix of nostalgia, optimism and light funk that makes it accessible to both jazz audiences and crossover listeners.