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Josh Quinlan Quintet: Mountain Time Standards
ByThe CD starts out with a bang with the hard-swinging "Sus It Out," a powerful song with beautiful harmonics and a crisp arrangement. This is classic toe-tapping, head-bobbing jazz, full of energy and blazing swing. There's great front line work with Quinlan and trumpeter John Lake, and rock-solid support by Ben Markley on piano, Kells Nollenberger on bass, and Ed Breazeale on drums. Quinlan's solo reveals his strong, supple tone, as well as his ability to improvise scorching lines. The excellent "Left Then Right" is equally hard bopping, containing a whiff of saxophonist John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" and a sparkling piano solo by Markley.
Another highlight is the excellent "Eclipse So," a jaunty tune the combines the lilt of island rhythms with an immaculately polished arrangement. Quinlan's solo is smooth and sinuous, once again revealing him to be a gifted soloist with an abundance of ideas and the strength to carry them out. The group also excels on ballads, including the mellow "Lingering," a charming depiction of life unfolding on laidback Colorado time, as well as the lovely "Jumar's Song," where Quinlan takes a gorgeous solo, deeply expressive and thoughtful.
Mountain Time Standards is another fine release by Dazzle Recordings, which is affiliated with Dazzle Jazz, Denver's premiere jazz club. The label was founded by the talented composer and conductor Tyler Gilmore and is now run by Quinlan. Dazzle Recordings has been releasing a steady stream of recordings by Colorado's finest jazz artists, creating an impressive record of the talent burgeoning on the Front Range scene. Fortunately Quinlan has included himself in the label's output, and his inaugural CD is testament to his significant talent and generous font of inspiration.
Track Listing
Sus It Out; Eclipse So; Night Walk; Lingering; Jumar's Song; Winter Solstice; Left Then Right; Storm Pass; Playa Negra; Anything and Everything.
Personnel
Josh Quinlan: saxophones; John Lake: trumpet; Ben Markley: piano; Kells Nollenberger: bass; Ed Breazeale: drums.
Album information
Title: Mountain Time Standards | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Dazzle Recordings
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