New Tomorrow

Shawn Maxwell's New Tomorrow features the alto saxophonist and flautist together with the rhythm section of Matt Nelson (keys), Junius Paul (bass) and Phil Beale (drums) and a trio of trumpeters, Corey Wilkes, Chad McCullough and Victor Garcia. Maxwell has hinted at jazz-funk-prog fusion before on previous albums, but never has the funk been more overt than it is throughout New Tomorrow. He's clearly got the chops and the players to pull off the concept. There's some interesting writing and playing throughout New Tomorrow - "Embraceable Excuses" is a genuinely interesting odd meter romp, "Saturday Morning Dance" is nicely played, and "Three Kinds of Heat" great arrangement gets a far bigger sound than the two horns that are playing on it. Personally, I find it quite amusing that the most in-the-pocket, grooving, get-right-to-it tune here is called "Throw Away Tune #2." If you like modern jazz, there's a lot to like on Shawn Maxwell's New Tomorrow.