Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Tucker Antell: Grime Scene

5

Tucker Antell: Grime Scene

By

Sign in to view read count
Tucker Antell: Grime Scene
Tucker Antell knows how to make an entrance. The two-minute solo stand that opens Grime Scene finds his stentorian saxophone blowing brusque and fluid across a wide swath. It plays like a strong man's lament-cum-catharsis, but what follows on the same track is something else: a bluesy shuffle with foot tap-inducing properties. This marks the first of many welcome surprises on this pleasing debut.

While the pairing of tenor saxophone and organ trio coupled with an affinity for the blues is nothing new, Antell has plenty of unexpected ideas up his sleeve to make his music stand apart. With "Difference Maker," for example, he takes a seemingly well-trodden route, working a time-tested blues feel...but dropping a beat to make it 11/8. That tweak makes all the difference. And on Thelonious Monk's "I Mean You," the lone cover on the album and one of four numbers featuring guest trumpeter Jason Palmer, form adjustments and an injection of choppy NOLA swagger make for fun times. Antell doesn't exactly play the part of a radical there and elsewhere, but he also doesn't fall in line with conventions. He finds a way to survive and thrive between those poles, and that adoption and embrace of a middle ground helps him carve out a clear identity.

Despite early bows to the blues, Antell has much more to offer than a single stream of thought. And the chemistry between this leader and his compatriots—Palmer, guitarist Carl Eisman, organist Jake Sherman, and drummer Lee Fish—is palpable in the five numbers that follow. That's clear whether we're talking about "What You Mean To Me," a piece opening with a lengthy, free-standing balladic saxophone intro and moving into low-key groove beauty; the slow funk of "The Hive" and its searing neighbor, "Madness"; the gorgeous, still water meditations of "Rae"; or the charged swing of "Home Stretch." This may just be a first step on record for Antell, but he's clearly on the right track.

Track Listing

Grime Scene; I Mean You; Difference Maker; What You Mean To Me; The Hive; Madness; Rae; Home Stretch.

Personnel

Tucker Antell
saxophone, tenor

Tucker Antell: tenor saxophone; Jason Palmer: trumpet (2, 4, 7, 8); Carl Eisman: guitar; Jake Sherman: B3 organ; Lee Fish: drums.

Album information

Title: Grime Scene | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: OA2 Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.