MUSIC REVIEW BY Kyle O'Brien, Jazz Society of Oregon
This (mostly) Seattle group lives in the modern jazz world, making original music that is somewhere between straight ahead and chamber jazz. Soprano saxophonist Brent Jensen, pianist Bill Anschell, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop are all veteran musicians, and the interplay is tight, letting the group move as a quartet, and allowing the individual members chances to solo within the arrangements. The title track is a journey that changes chords rapidly and plays with color. Jensen's soprano sax is richly-toned and a welcome melodic voice. His tribute to Lee Konitz, "All of Lee," is a minor key swinger that colors slightly outside the lines, just like Konitz would, and Anschell's chords are altered in the right fashion. Johnson is fairly understated on this refined album, but he gets a few chances to show his nimble fingers, as on his own "Peregrine." They cover the Beatles, but their take on "Fixing a Hole" is completely original in its lushness.
