Restless Idealism

Five IMPRESSIVE Stars. Roxy Coss is a potent, facile young jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist who has twice made the vaunted Downbeat International Critics Poll in 2014-15 as a "rising star." After reading the raves over her sophomore release "Restless Idealism", I bought it and after listening several times I must heartily agree. She has great chops on both saxes: a fluid, fleet-fingered tenor sax and a soprano sax style, a fertile imagination, speed, 'quote ability', and attractive mature tones on both saxes. Her talented quintet includes Alex Wintz on guitar, Chris Pattishall on piano, bassist Dezron Douglas, Willie Jones III on drums, with special guest, trumpet legend Jeremy Pelt. The atmosphere is mostly post bop, the compositions are swinging, interesting, and adventurous and the group is highly empathetic.

The 'best of the best" begins with the serpentine and bopping theme entitled "Don't Cross The Coss" where Coss jumps into her impressive solo with a quote from "Taking a Chance on Love" and then fully displays her command of the horn across the octaves with some appealing, clever ideas. On "Waiting" she pours on the intensity, along with Wintz and Pattishall. "Push" has marvelous solos by Pelt and Coss, plus an amazing drum solo by Jones III. The dreamy ballad "Perspective" has an intricate solo from Wintz. "Breaking Point" has an attractively-voiced theme and background support, as Coss pushes herself with a bright, brilliant improvisation, as does Wintz. The lovely jazz waltz "Almost My Own" features a percussive solo by bassist Douglas and a rhapsodic solo by Pattishall. The dreamy "The Story Of Fiona" has an interesting structure where Pelt and Coss inter-weave their solos until they are playing together. And there is much more music to explore. Roxy Coss is a marvelous reed artist with an impressive quintet, demonstrating their great potential on this recording which is Highly Recommended. Five STUNNING Stars!