Shaw's Groove

The esteemed guitarist Jason Keiser is joined by John Stowell, Erik Jekabson, Aaron Lington, Dan Robbins and Jason Lewis for these lively and diverse jazz tunes that explore Woody Shaw's fantastic recordings from the '70s.

"Organ Grinder" starts the listen with Lewis' frisky drums and Lington's expressive baritone sax making for a lively jazz demeanor, and "Zoltan" follows with cozy guitar lines from Stowell and Jekabson's well timed brass for the flowing melodies.

The middle belongs to the intimacy of "Katerina Ballerina", where the soulful brass and dreamy guitar meet at a stirring intersection, while "Blues For Woody" bops and shakes with a contagious energy thanks to Robbins' strategic double bass.

"Jean Marie" and "Shaw's Groove" exit the listen, where the former is a lively and rhythmic album highlight, and the latter indeed finds plenty of grooves to cultivate amid the fluid rhythm section, lively brass and warm guitar.

A very dynamic and collaborative effort, Keiser and company turn in exceptional originals and covers, and they sound great in any decade.