Clarity

What a fantastic jazz album to close out this issue with... the energy levels are far beyond the pale, as pianist Michael Kocour leads the talented sextet into jazz that just won't stop! On tunes like the opener, "Unhinged", you'll find yourself trying to (mentally) direct the sextet via your tapping toes - I'll tell ya', this is some of the best jazz I've listened to (yet) this year! If you're yearning for something with a more funk-i-fied feel, you'll totally dig on "Down South"; this tune just cooks. To add to Michael's fantastic piano/keyboards, you'll also hear Will Campbell on alto sax, Matt Olson on tenor sax, Vern Sielert on trumpet, Jon Hamar on bass & Dom Moio on drums... and as you listen to my personal favorite of the dozen tunes offered up, "Derecho", you'll realize that you've found a true gem for your jazz collection. I give the Unhinged Sextet a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.98.