...But Not Heard

Students of jazz are always told to listen to everyone, borrow what inspires them, but give it back eventually. Because their most important assignment is to find a voice of their own. Many flattering things can be said of Portland guitarist John Stowell. And one of them is that he is very much his own man in a highly creative musical sense. He even holds the guitar like nobody else! On this CD, Stowell is reunited with his Seattle playing mates of over 12 years--Jeff Johnson on bass and John Bishop on drums. Added as a welcome guest this time around is another Seattle player, Hans Teuber, on saxophones and flute. His third stream approach leaves a lot of space for the listener to happily absorb. If I were to compare Teuber to anyone, well, Lee Konitz is the first to come to mind. Both Teuber and Stowell contribute most of all-original program here. Much of the music has great depth and feeling, and now and then it swings with authority. Stowell and friends are deep in the shed, creative cats and, you may be sure, they've found their own very distinctive voices.