Bassist, composer, and longtime bandleader Bruce Gertz returned in 2025 with Octopus Dreams, a new quintet release on Open Mind Jazz. The album features trumpeter-flugelhornist Phil Grenadier, tenor saxophonist Rick DiMuzio, pianist Gison Schachnik, and drummer Gary Fieldman.
The set opens with “Power Walk,” whose theme is built on the chord changes of “Jada” and Sonny Rollins’ “Doxy,” and includes solos from Gertz, Grenadier, and DiMuzio. The title track, “Octopus Dreams,” shifts to a moody ballad feel as Grenadier navigates complex chord changes, while “Sea Worthy” gives each of the five musicians a brief solo spotlight.
“Mr. Z” offers a relatively relaxed contrast before “I’m Busy” pushes the group into the fastest tempo of the program, highlighted by exchanges between the two horns and Fieldman. The album wraps with “Opening,” where Schachnik’s piano solo picks up DiMuzio’s closing idea, and the energetic closer “Redacted.”
Gertz brings decades of experience to the project. He has served as Professor of Bass at Berklee since 1976, written six instructional books, and worked as a contributing editor to Bass World Magazine. His performance credits include collaborations with Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Dave Brubeck, Gary Burton, John Abercrombie, Joey Calderazzo, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Bill Frisell, Gil Evans, Jon Hendricks, Jerry Bergonzi, Joe Lovano, George Garzone, Mike Stern, Larry Coryell, and Danilo Perez, alongside a long history of leading his own groups. Octopus Dreams adds another document to that extensive catalog,
Musician: Bruce Gertz on bass; Tim Miller on guitar; Rick DiMuzio on tenor saxophone; Gilson Schachnik on piano; and Gary Fieldman on drums.