Tunnel Six: Alive

The formation of the American/Canadian sextet Tunnel Six wasn't planned. The six musicians met up at the 2009 International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music at the Banff Center in Alberta, Canada, and discovered rare group chemistry after having played together there. Since then the group has performed across Canada and the U.S., and cut two CDs, Lake Superior (OA2 Records, 2010) and now Alive, recorded at their live shows in Vancouver, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle.

The line-up—sax and trumpet, guitar and piano, bass and drums—is a chamber-like collective with more energy than groups that are usually tagged that way. An equilibrium of input, both in tune-smithing and playing is the mode of operation; but it's tempting to call trumpeter Chad McCullough a leader of sorts. He penned three of the nine tunes, and dishes up some fine solo spots; and he did the cover photo and layout too.

Saxophonist Brad Dietschi does a tight, sizzling solo on his "Tides of Certainty," in front of some sharp metallic comping by guitarist Brian Seligman. McCullough's "Pinwheel" features some lyrical horn work, fine and intricate interplay between the guitar and Andrew Oliver's piano, and includes a hypnotic interlude where Oliver lays down a steady groove for bassist Ron J. Hynes and drummer Tyson Stubelek to churn and rumble over.

Alive is a cohesive statement, from start to finish, full of expansive, slightly blurred—from the melding of guitar and piano—soundscapes, hot horns and seamless instrumental interaction.

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