Home » Jazz Articles » Times 4: Relations

Times 4: Relations

By Jim Santella
February 7, 2007
Sign in to view read count

Saxophonist Lincoln Adler leads this contemporary jazz quartet from San Francisco in a program of originals that blow smoke all around the room. Where there's smoke, there's fire, and this band has plenty of it to share.

Adler has always been able to express himself on tenor and alto with a fluid charm that lends itself to soulful ballads and hip adventures. Here, he brings a light saxophone tone to each piece with a sensual articulation that speaks volumes. He merges the character of his instrument's voice with keyboards, bass and drums for a dreamy sequence of events characterized by cohesive improvisation and filled with the spirit of a forward-looking generation. Hip-hop rhythms and a groove-based approach seal the band's fate, and thus Relations surges with a mesmerizing power and charms accordingly.

Central Park and "Hericane stand out as the session's most significant pieces, bringing in impressions that are vivid and ready to roll. One belies a scene of placid lawns that serve as a background for highly athletic activities, while the other surges powerfully with dramatic force. Elsewhere, much of the album rests with a languishing dreamscape that's soothing as well as laid-back. Each dreamy piece, however, contains the kind of inner fire that characterizes Times 4 as a hot property that's ready for bigger and better things.

Track Listing

M.O.; Mojito; Thickness; Cell Phone; Enterlude; Full Moon; Relations; Central Park; Hericane; Exitlude.

Personnel

Lincoln Adler: saxophone; Greg Sankovich: keyboards; Kevin Lofton: electric bass; Maurice Miles: drums.

Album information

Title: Relations | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Groove Tonic Media

Post a comment about this album

FOR THE LOVE OF JAZZ

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.