Time: 64:26
Size: 147.5 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front
[5:43] 1. Monster Shoes
[5:14] 2. Yo Gabba Blues
[7:16] 3. Urban Vigilante
[4:52] 4. Starscream
[6:08] 5. Boots
[6:27] 6. Charlie Work
[5:02] 7. Big Hurt
[5:55] 8. Beyond Infinity
[9:36] 9. The Sixth
[4:52] 10. Juggernaut
[3:17] 11. Special Order
"Invariably, mention is made of Shawn Maxwell's tone. It has invited comparisons to Kenny Garrett's, Jackie McLean's or Art Pepper's. On his Urban Vigilante performance, intimations of Phil Woods appear as well. In the end, the comparisons represent unsatisfactory attempts to describe Maxwell's distinctive, burly sound, certainly not sweet like Desmond's or Konitz's, and yet still fully expressive with a slight vibrato, undulating dynamics and extensions of notes for their full value... Maxwell leads a cohesive, exhilarating quartet of musicians equally inspired by the possibilities presented while they perform. Bassist Bob Lovecchio's vamp establishes the atmosphere for "Charlie Work," which veers between minor and major roots, and between abrupt stops and starts. And drummer Brandon Dickert creates the initial tension of "Special Order" with an extended solo that leads, after its end, into a bass and piano undercurrent roiling Maxwell's melody of long tones stretching over the streaming rhythm as volume builds and then fades... to silence. But the group's mutual support and unity of purpose combine to create separate overall moods for each of the tracks. The mysteriousness of the metrically tricky "Monster Shoes," accentuated by the minimization of Nelson's chords and the clip-clopping of Dickert's propulsion, contrasts with ethereal float of "Beyond Infinity," a reference to Buzz Lightyear's exclamation. Maxwell's quartet does have a lot of fun with the concept and with the music... The group's cohesiveness, the intriguing compositions and Maxwell's always appealing sound invite attention and enjoyment." ~ Bill Donaldson, Cadence Magazine
Shawn Maxwell - alto saxophone; Matt Nelson - piano; Bob Lovecchio - bass; Brandon Dickert - drums. Recorded 3/13 & 3/20/2011.
Shawn Maxwell - alto saxophone; Matt Nelson - piano; Bob Lovecchio - bass; Brandon Dickert - drums. Recorded 3/13 & 3/20/2011.
Urban Vigilante