Times 4: Eclipse (2010)

GLENN ASTARITA,

Glenn Astarita

Senior Contributor since 1997

Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.

Recent articles (1,632 total)

Published: November 28, 2010

Track review of "Naima"

San Francisco Bay Area quartet Times 4 finely tunes its compositional prowess on Eclipse. Sparked by snappy pulses, and memorable hooks, the unit attains an attractive balance between radio-friendly jazz and several instances of serious-minded improvisation. At times strutting its stuff, the quartet imparts a stylistic up-tempo rendition of sax great John Coltrane John Coltrane
1926 - 1967
saxophone 's timeless classic, "Naima."

Times 4 transforms "Naima" into a peppery groove-centric piece that is not overly-technical or way out of line. Here, saxophonist Lincoln Adler Lincoln Adler

saxophone 's notes take on vocal attributes atop keyboardist Greg Sankovich Greg Sankovich
's organ treatments and resonating electric piano phrasings. Although the band renders a less austere version of Trane's masterpiece, it keenly sustains the probing melody and core framework, expanding the piece via solos during the bridge, while drummer Maurice Miles lays out a quiet funk-rock pattern to close it out. Times 4 translucently merges contemporary jazz with a touch of virulence and soul.