Chris Hazelton: In Rotation

Here is a quartet with an interesting makeup: leader Chris Hazelton on Hammond B3 organ backed by saxophone, vibraphone and drums. It is a sizable departure from the norm, one that can separate an album from the herd and lend it a bracing and singular voice or, if not managed properly, lead to series of relatively tame and colorless themes that fall rather short of the group's capacity and purpose.

In Rotation, Kansas City native Hazelton's second album, lands somewhere atop the midpoint of that analogy, an earnest but sometimes uneven narrative whose moments of buoyancy and vigor definitely outumber those that are less so, but not by anything resembling a country mile. One cannot fault Hazelton for that; he is an astute and resourceful player, as are his teammates: saxophonist Brett Jackson, vibraphonist Peter Schlamb and drummer John Kizilarmut.

When the musicians are admirable the issue clearly lies elsewhere, more often than not with the choice of material. In Rotation can be divided roughly into three parts: original compositions by Jimmy Heath, Horace Silver and fellow Kansas City artist Everette DeVan, followed by three more from Hazelton, and the last three by Billy Strayhorn, Lee Morgan and Tadd Dameron. As an assortment, generally better than average but less than remarkable, which may also describe the quartet's rendition.

Heath's unassuming "Sound for Sore Ears" paves the way for Silver's even-tempered waltz "Summer in Central  Park" and DeVan's graceful "Voodoo Village," after which come Hazelton's nimble "Paris of the Plains," gentle "First Snow" and gusty "Brisk Breeze Through the Trees." Taken together, well above the norm, with persuasive solos by all hands. Jackson plays tenor sax on the first half-dozen numbers, baritone on Strayhorn's "Lovesome Thing" and Morgan's swashbuckling "Speedball" before unleashing the tenor again on Dameron's even-tempered finale, "On a Misty Night." The baritone suits Jackson well, so much so that more of it would have been warmly embraced.

In Rotation is a solid session that becomes more likable and impressive with repeated listening, which is indeed a postive outcome and one that warrants a heartfelt recommendation.