Joe Syrian Motor City Jazz Octet: A Blue Time

Drummer Joe Syrian's spit-shined Motor City Jazz Octet keeps driving emphatically forward on its second recording, A Blue Time, using an impressive arsenal to scurry through a generally agreeable lineup of more or less familiar themes that have been given fresh coats of paint by seven astute and talented arrangers.

Even with the various harmonic and rhythmic changes, many of which were inspired by Syrian, the music remains lucid and accessible, thanks to the clever charts and spirited straight-ahead blowing by the octet. Duke Jordan's genial "Jordu," the first of two splendid arrangements by John Fedchock, starts the ball rolling, with baritone saxophonist Paul Maraghi, trombonist Doug Beavers and guitarist Paul Bollenback sharing solo honors. Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Agua de Beber" sheds its usual Latin raiment for a rock-centered tempo in Brian Stark's astute arrangement before guest vocalist Lucy Yeghiazaryan makes her lone appearance and is suitably prim and earnest on the pop standard "Teach Me Tonight."

After pianist Adam Birnbaum gives John Lennon and Paul McCartney's "Norwegian Wood" several dramatic and refreshing twists, Bollenback returns on electric guitar to convulse Peter Green's saucy tango, "Black Magic Woman," before the ensemble saunters through Rich DeRosa's gentle treatment of Henry Mancini's lyrical film theme,"Charade." Birnbaum arranged Kenny Dorham's charming "Blue Bossa," Fedchock the Nat King Cole hit, "Nature Boy," DeRosa Pablo Duran's rhythmically enchanting "Sway." The octet exits with David O'Rourke's colorful reading of Tadd Dameron's easygoing title theme, "A Blue Time."

Syrian clearly has his troops well-armed and ready, and they make even the most arduous passages seem close to effortless. Besides the soloists already noted, there are stong and perceptive statements along the way by Birnbaum, tenors Dave Riekenberg and Tim Ries, bassist Lorin Cohen, trumpeter Nick Marchione and Maraghi again (bass clarinet on "Charade," baritone on "A Blue Time"). Syrian rests pretty much in the background, happy to keep impeccable time with Cohen (five numbers) or Boris Kozlov. Motor City, best known for producing automobiles, boasts a long and admirable jazz tradition as well, and Syrian's impressive octet keeps that flag flying high and unimpaired.