Devin Daniels Quintet: LesGo!

Devin Daniels is an up-and-coming Los Angeles-based alto saxophonist whose debut album, Trio Exposition, dropped in 2022 on The Village label. Having toured with Herbie Hancock and played at an all-star tribute to Wayne Shorter at the Hollywood Bowl in the summer of 2023, it would seem that his star is rapidly rising. This new album, recorded live with his quintet at the Sam First jazz club near LAX and released on its new audiophile label, explains why: Daniels is an intriguing musician with his own voice, and writes excellent tunes that bring classic 1960s styles up to date. His quintet here—including Julien Knowles on trumpet, Chris Fishman on piano, Jermaine Paul on bass and Benjamin Ring on drums—are all accomplished young musicians with burgeoning pedigrees including recording and touring with the likes of Pat Metheny and Billy Childs.

The audiophile vinyl LP release, limited to 1000 copies, features 4 lengthy tunes and sounds fantastic, with lacquers cut by master engineer Bernie Grundman; the digital release adds a number of bonus tracks from the live sessions recorded February 16th and 17th, 2024. The title track opens with a soliloquy by the leader that dances around the main theme before the band enters. "LesGo!" is an instantly memorable fanfare-like theme with a gospel finish, and Daniels' solo exhibits an impressive range of commentary on that theme, most excitingly when everyone but Ring drops out and a sax-drum duet ensues. As this tune winds down, Fishman and Daniels enter into a conversation that slowly develops into John Coltrane's classic tune from Giant Steps, "Spiral." Knowles takes the first solo, which goes to interesting places as Ring moves from a Latin feel into a broad swing that leads into Daniels' solo. The leader is expansive, ably navigating Coltrane's logic while avoiding clichés and creating his own appealing melodic inventions. This 14-minute track closes with a superb drum solo from Ring, prompting enthusiastic applause from the club's audience.

Side two opens with Daniels' and Knowles' "Reckon," whose wistful tune is played in harmony by the two writers. Apparently, this recording captures the first time the group ever played this tune, but one would never know it from their sympathetic accompaniment. The closing track with the redacted title is meant as a tribute to The Pan African Peoples Arkestra, an avant-garde organization founded by Horace Tapscott with whom Daniels has recorded. This odd-metered track has a suitably knotty introduction, framed by collective interjections by the band before enthralling solos by Daniels, Knowles, and then both together. On this, and all of the tracks, the soulful bass of Paul provides the sonic glue that holds the band together with enough flexibility to allow the grooves to breathe.

Everything on this album just feels "right," and identifies Daniels as a musician from whom we can expect big things.