Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Liam Sillery: On the Fly

Liam Sillery: On the Fly

By Jim Santella
January 28, 2007
Sign in to view read count

It's fitting that trumpeter Liam Sillery chose to close this program with Lee Morgan's "Ceora, since the parallels drawn between the two stand out so distinctly. He steers this New York/Los Angeles quintet through his crisp and clean sophomore recording project with all elements in place. Swing, groove, cohesiveness, technical mastery and improvisation show up from all parties concerned.

While the program is original, the quintet's sound isn't. Sillery brings back the classic Blue Note sound of the 1960s—but in this case, we get our dose of originality from the new compositions, not some in-your-face gimmick or emotional squeal. Here, the trumpeter and his band simply paint beautiful, refreshing landscapes that keep the old flame alive.

Sillery's Two Time Blues provides an unexpected twist. Up-tempo and filled with energy, the piece allows for personal expression by the leader/trumpeter, who carries the torch. Organist Joe Bagg, guitarist Larry Koonse, saxophonist David Sills and drummer Tim Pleasant, all established veterans of jazz's mainstream, contribute creative solo spots that drive with spirit.

Sills' "Mai Lien brings a fresh, exotic quintet discussion to this effort, where the trumpeter and his musical partners combine for a lovely adventure. Not overly dramatic, this piece and the rest of the session find the right balance. By combining some of our best jazz memories with new and original material, Sillery's On the Fly takes off with the right stuff.

Track Listing

On the Fly; Bicycle Ride; Fontok; Down the Line; Sloe Joe; Neptune; Two Time Blues; Mai Lien; Ceora.

Personnel

Liam Sillery

trumpet

Liam Sillery: trumpet, flugelhorn; David Sills: tenor saxophone; Joe Bagg: organ; Larry Koonse: guitar; Tim Pleasant: drums.

Album information

Title: On the Fly | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: OA2 Records

< Previous
Last First Kiss

Next >
Back on the Corner

Comments

About Liam Sillery

Instrument: Trumpet

Tags

For the Love of Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.