Oblivity

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Oblivity, by Shawn Purcell, and it's intensively satisfying. Opening with title track, Oblivity, Shawn Purcell on guitar and Walt Weiskopf on tenor sax chisel out a really cool melody supported by Chris Ziemba on piano, Jeff Reed on bass and Steve Fidyk on drums. Weiskopf really rips a great sax solo, tightly punctuated by Ziemba on piano, then surrendering the lead to Ziemba who really holds the line. Purcell picks up the groove on Guitar Synth sending it even further before returning to TDC for a climatic conclusion. Explosive opener. Verdigris with it's steady pace and sophisticated drum pattern provides fertile soil for double time guitar work by Purcell over the stable melodic base by Ziemba on piano. Weiskopf really soars on sax with full scale melodic assault before Ziemba takes the lead with calming yet vibrant piano lead, anchored by Reed and Fidyk. Very nice. Laid back, Lazy Reverie, is an easy shuffle featuring Purcell on Synth laying down the melody. Weiskopf really stirs the pot with a strong tenor solo, punctuated by Ziemba on piano. Purcell keeps things simple with a breezy Synth solo with Darden Purcell on voice and Ben Patterson on trombone adding warm texture as Ziemba stretches on piano. Nicely cool. Sunday Best has a strong melody and a real bluesy swing, adorned nicely by the sassy sax work of Weiskopf. Purcell steps in with some great eighth note runs and double stops creating excellent tension against the solid bottom created by Ziemba, Reed and Fidyk. Deep. Wrapping the release is Flow, a strong, anthem like track with Purcell and Weiskopf paired in tandem creating a forceful front. Taking it low, Ziemba on piano sets the base melody before Purcell comes on full force on Synth really tearing a hole in the atmosphere, followed by Weiskopf on sax creating a sense of the storm winding down over an excellent front of percussion by Fidyk, paring down even further to the basis by Ziemba who leads the ensemble to a solid close. Powerful closer. Beautiful cover by the way...