Jerrold Dubyk Quintet: Invitations

Canadian saxophonist Jerrold Dubyk delivers his third album as leader on Invitations , where he blends an array of fresh original music with a few cover tunes in forging an audacious musical experience of modern-styled jazz. An educator by profession, Dubyk is the Director of Music at Strathcona High school as well as serving on the faculties of Macewan University and the University of Alberta. However, recording has been keeping the educator busy as he also unveils an album of semi-improvised music entitled PREQUAL by his Edmonton-based quartet.

On this project, the saxophonist reunites with his Vancouver bandmates pianist Brad Turner and drummer Jesse Cahill who are simply magnificent throughout. Rounding out the band are renowned Canadian bassist Jodi Michelle Proznick and trumpeter of note Terell Stafford, all-together comprising one formidable quintet where the talent is rich, the musicianship, unquestioned. With an expressive cast of players behind him, leading the music was easy for Dubyk as the opening "Afrocentric" clearly demonstrates. A swinging beginning to one dynamic session, this Joe Henderson composition features sharp solo moments from almost every member of the band setting the stage for what's to come.

There's a particularly creative arrangement of the Sam Rivers standard "Beatrice," where Stafford tee's off on the horn in one delicious romp followed nicely by Dubyk's graceful tenor saxophone voice. This is supported ably by Cahill's crashing cymbal accents, an excellent bass solo and Turner's splendid piano foray turning out to be one of the best of the set. The leader's original title track is simply another winner of tune making for three in a row in an album full of keepers and few filler pieces. The music slows down a bit on the beautiful balladic "Every Saint Has a Past" providing an opportunity to showcase the saxophonists in a warm setting revealing the tender side of his tenor.

Dubyk employs elements of Gospel and the New Orleans style on the repentant "Every Sinner Has a Future," with a sound that may just be perfect for a church full of sinners. Stafford's trumpet solos are especially appropriate on this piece. The group provides an engaging mid-tempo rendition of the Victor Lewis tune "Vulnerability" before closing out on the swinging side with the brief, but turbulent "What Do You Want from Me?" Except for the finale, every piece falls between seven to nine-minutes in duration making the most of the eight-piece selection.

Wielding a fluid saxophone with an appealing allure, Jerrold Dubyk and his amazing quintet deliver very accessible and highly entertaining Invitations on a musical outing and invite, well worth accepting and visiting often.