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Shawn Maxwell: Originals II
ByThe set opens with "Rice" (there are some odd song titles here), and the group has a mood of freshness and good time spontaneity behind Maxwell, whose alto tone has a loose, honking and rather rough-hewn feeling to it. This, and much of the set, gives a '60s Blue Note Records vibe, pushed into the new century.
"Duck Snort," in spite of a title that might imply otherwise, swings easy, and pianist Mike Nelson solos with an impressive gusto. "Year Three" features Maxwell on flute, blowing light, frosty lines around Graham Czach's bowed bass and the spare tinkle of Nelson's piano, on a pensive and classical-sounding break in the bop atmosphere.
"Grimlock" gets a glow of electric keyboards and a tight groove, sounding a bit Yellowjacket-ish, and on "Working Dog" guest trombonist Johanna Mahmud opens the tune with bold tones before Maxwell moans in on bass clarinet in front of an organ simmer. Vim and vigor is the name of the game with "Leather," fronting the band with a dark, woody tone on clarinet, while Nelson steps light and breezy on the keys, and on "Sodor," Maxwell blows with a Paul Desmond, dry martini sound.
Originals II, a spirited set of jazz sounds, proves itself an outstanding follow-up to Shawn Maxwell's debut.
Track Listing
Rice; Duck Snort; Insert Title Here; Year Three; Grimlock; Working Dog; Mr. Strongbow; Leather; Storm; Sodor; Zoned Out; Fifth Quarter.
Personnel
Shawn Maxwell
saxophone, altoShawn Maxwell: alto sax, flute, clarinets; Matt Nelson: piano, keyboards; Graham Czech: bass; Brad Dickert; drums; Aaron Koppel: guitar (3); Johanna Mahmud: trombone (6).
Album information
Title: Originals II | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: Self Produced
Comments
About Shawn Maxwell
Instrument: Saxophone, alto
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