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
Jamie Cullum
twentysomething
McCOY TYNER
Quartet
Julian Lage
Arclight
BILL FRISELL
All We Are Saying...
Bob Merrill and Roswell Rudd
Cheerin' Up The Universe
CURT RAMM, DAN MORETTI, BILL CUNLIFFE
Foundations
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