Featuring Zach Lucas on all instruments (saxophones, synthesizers, drum programming, percussion) as well as composing all songs therein, some might say Gelato is too much, where others wouldn't have an opinion whatsoever. It is difficult to know where the synths start and the saxophone ends, but there are also moments (like in the titular track "Gelato") where there is no doubt that Zach Lucas is a killer on the alto sax, whether using effects or not. More grounded tracks like "Squirty Tuesday" and "The Old Ways" exhibit flashy moments of soloing, but are still rooted in the groove-first mentality of the entire record, while spacier songs like "Slice" and "Enough Already" depart for weirder, synthesis-heavy destinations before coming home. Top to bottom, the album is like a well-thought-out after party (before the guests have arrived), but at the end of the day (or evening), Gelato sounds like fun, and doesn't take itself too seriously... though it does force the listener to ask some interesting questions, and maybe even smile, head nodding in that unconscious affirmative response to all deep grooves everywhere.

About the artist:
Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, Zach Lucas started playing professionally at the age of fifteen with a ska band called The Heptals. Accepted into the prestigious New England Conservatory in 1999, he headed to Boston, where he studied with Jerry Bergonzi, Danilo Perez, Hankus Netsky, Bob Brookemeyer, and George Garzone. It was while attending NEC that Zach helped form the avant-funk band Bootyjuice, and after graduating in 2003, moved to New York City, where he lived and worked for more than a decade. There his career blossomed, frequently performing with Lifted, Bootyjuice, Message, and many more. In 2007 Zach joined the world-renowned Youngblood Brass Band, remaining an integral part of the band to this day. His recording credits include India Arie, Brand Nubian, Talib Kweli, The Pharcyde, Macy Gray, Big Daddy Kane, Bad Rabbits, Andy Grammer, Side Car NY, and Anthony Hamilton, among others. Zach also performed on Sting and Shaggy's Grammy-award-winning album 44/876, which won Best Reggae Album in 2018.