The Stein Brothers Quintet: Quixotic

The debut release of the Stein Brothers—Asher on alto sax and Alex on tenor—offers a journey into the bop universe, as defined and structured about fifty years ago. It is done in such a joyful and elegant manner, with remarkable conviction and proficiency in bop's rich musical language, that its anachronistic styling can be forgiven.

The Stein brothers—natives of New Jersey—have studied with bop methodologist and highly appreciated educator Barry Harris, and accordingly draw their inspiration from bebop pioneers such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk. Still, they stay loyal to Harris' gentler approach to interpretation. Along with another Harris disciple Harlem native pianist Mferghu, the group also features Brooklyn-based bassist Doug Largent and Queens-based drummer Joe Blaxx.

The opening title tune, penned by Asher, demonstrates the Stein Brothers' gentle approach, as do other tracks on the album. There is a steady swing feel that leaves the soloists—all the band members—enough space to alternate between Latin-tinged and straight bop time. The cover of Barry Harris' catchy "And So I Love You," features gentle interplay between the Stein Brothers and guests—trumpeter Duane Eubanks and trombonist Jonathan Voltzok. The cover of Gershwin's ballad "Embraceable You" features Alex and Asher taking turns while exploring the melody, with Alex's breathy phrasing clearly referencing the romantic timbre of Ben Webster.

Other tunes feature a more sophisticated approach. Pianist Mferghu's "Midlife Crisis" brings the quintet into hard-bop territory and is used as a vehicle for the fast interplay of Mferghu and the Steins' horns, blending beautifully with Voltzok's trombone. Asher's tight rearrangement of the chord changes of Charlie Parker's "Confirmation" for his own "Charmed Quark" features the quintet again, with Voltzok trading relaxed solos over the theme. Alex's rearrangement of "Cherokee" for his own "Trailblazer" provides a platform for a friendly sax duel; both brothers articulate their solos in a convincing manner. The standard "This Time the Dreams on Me" concludes this fine demonstration of the complexities of the bop lexicon through a series of fast and brief solos.