George Cotsirilos Quartet: Refuge

At a troubling and turbulent time, when many jazz albums seek to convey a "message," the only statement that Chicago-bred, San Francisco-based guitarist George Cotsirilos and his able quartet wish to make on Refuge is that swing remains king in their domain, wielding its magisterial influence over ten of Cotsirilos' sunny compositions and arrangements.

Even when Cotsirilos eases back on the accelerator, as he does on "The Three Doves" and "Smoke Signal," an undercurrent of persuasive rhythms reminds listeners what the ensemble is all about. Elsewhere, those rhythms are front and center as Cotsirilos shapes his musical patterns with unflagging support from pianist Keith Saunders, bassist Robb Fisher and drummer Ron Marabuto who have worked with the leader so often that their interplay is as smooth as it is seamless.

While there is no gainsaying the talents of Cotsirilos or his colleagues, when all is said and done this is a standard guitar-led quartet (even though it plays no standards). And it follows that one's appreciation of the music may rest largely on acceptance of the guitar-plus-rhythm section format in general and straight-ahead jazz in particular, as there is nothing here that is less than well-groomed and plain-spoken.

Cotsirilos' compositions are bright and amiable, dancing earnestly forward as they blend into an appetizing straight-ahead stew that leaves no aftertaste. Solos—by Cotsirilos and the others—are much the same, steadily efficient but a touch less than memorable. In other words, an admirable session from end to end that may not inspire everyone but should displease hardly anyone.

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