Dan Willis: Velvet Gentlemen

Satie, who's inspired many jazz artists through the decades, lends his spirit to this program, which ranges in scope from straight-ahead jazz to a lyrical form of jazz/rock and beyond to more creative pursuits. The variety in Willis' program proves quite persuasive.

Oswanski uses a Fender Rhodes as well as an accordion to color the session with a unique texture. McCann's fiery electric guitar builds the momentum and pushes the envelope higher and higher. He's all over the place, tearing up the floorboards with excitement and lending an ocean of emotional thrills.

Willis, on the other hand, prefers a more mellow approach, leisurely blending multitracked woodwind instruments into a vocal-like performance. On bass clarinet, his lucid phrases are warm, with a clear communicative appeal. On soprano and tenor, the saxophonist speaks the language of jazz's pioneers while forging a unique voice, painting impressions through ballads and gentle romps. His double-reed instruments allow him to express an exotic flavor and adjust the program's focus transparently.

From leisurely and languid to fired-up and frisky, Velvet Gentlemen shifts seamlessly through its colorful moods. As an ensemble featuring some of New York's finest jazz players, Willis' modern mainstream band pushes the creative envelope on this highly recommended program of original music.

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