2014-02-16
For his fifth release, FlashMob, saxophonist Anton Schwartz has assembled a skilled team of musicians. Together, they have put together an album of contemporary jazz that occasionally delves into the bop arena (Cumulonimbus, Epistrophy, The Contender, and the opening track). The album starts strong with the title track. Second song, "Swamp Thang" takes it to New Orleans with its crafty snare work from drummer, Lorca Hart. Hart also shows off his chops with the trap set on "Cumulonimbus". The band wins me over, however, with its arrangement of my favorite Monk tune, "Epistrophy", one of the two covers on the album. All in all, FlashMob" is a nice addition to today's jazz library. Rebecca Ruth
BILLY BANG QUINTET FEATURING FRANK LOWE
Above & Beyond: Live in Grand Rapids
Nicholas Payton
Sonic Trance
JAKE BERGEVIN
Holding Back the Dawn
KEITH MARKS
Foreign Funk
Lois Deloatch
Hymn to Freedom: A Tribute to Oscar Peterson
GRP (GABRIEL RIESCO PROJECT)
Sculptures in Time
The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.