Diverse
was formed while the bandmembers were studying in saxophonist
Bobby Watson
's jazz program at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Four of the students formed a band while in school, wrote originals, sought gigs, and subsequently entered the 2008
Gene Harris Jazz Festival/Origin Records Jazz Competition
, which they won, with this record date being the prize. Having done his own post-graduate work in
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers
(where he later became music director before going out on his own),
Watson
recognized the uniqueness of
, as they created a variety of original material that defies predictable paths while also leaving a lasting impression. Check out the lighthearted interplay between trumpeter
Hermon Mehari
and tenor saxophonist
William Sanders
in the upbeat
"Sojourner,"
the intense post-bop cooker
"Where It Lives"
(adding
on alto sax), or the adventurous opener,
"Busy Sunday,"
which journeys through many different styles like a pedestrian walking through many different ethnic neighborhoods in a metropolis. Pianist
John Brewer
, bassist
Ben Leifer
, and drummer
Ryan Lee
make up the superb rhythm section. On this strong debut, the musicians in
live up to their band's name. ~ Ken Dryden