Jason Kush: Finally Friday

Simply narrating the resume of saxophonist/educator/writer/composer Jason Kush would require more space than is usually devoted to an entire review. For someone his age—or even someone older—Kush, currently an associate professor at Slippery Rock (PA) University, has had an exceptionally wide and productive career as a performer, teacher and author in a multitude of genres in the U.S. and around the world.

What matters here, of course, is how well Kush fares on Finally Friday, the third album as leader of his own group, a quartet date on which he wields his tenor saxophone in front of a capable rhythm section consisting of pianist Alton Merrell, bassist Jeff Grubbs and drummer Dr. David Glover. To say the outcome rests largely on his shoulders seems more than fair, as Kush also wrote (and presumably arranged) every song on the album.

What ensues is a bright, straight-ahead session on which everyone performs well without pushing any envelopes or breaking new ground. Kush, as befits his experience, is measured and articulate, even though separating him from the company of his peers could prove extremely difficult. The same is true of Kush's teammates who bolster him on every number with elegant albeit temperate taste and assurance.

Kush's eight compositions follow a similar course: respectable, yes, but never more than that. Well-played, yes, but a stride or two short of notable. Following a series of pleasant but otherwise modest themes, Kush saves the best for last: "Razor Burn," a fiery swinger on which everyone kicks back and digs in hard. More of that would have been warmly welcomed. As it is, Finally Friday showcases a talented ensemble giving every number the best it has to offer. For those who relish finely built tenor-led quartets, that may be more than enough.

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