The debut album from pianist
Pax Wallace
makes use of a number of Seattle jazzers with notable skills, and his own formidable chops on the piano. The numbers here are all originals from
Wallace
, and show some fine ability in arrangement and sensitivity in composition. The treat here is in the performance, though.
moves from choppy, rhythmic, pseudo-
Monk
playing in some pieces to light melodic beauty in others. Trumpet playing on the part of
Jim Knapp
is exceptional, as is
Charles Pillow
's sax throughout. Able rhythm section work comes from
Chuck Bergeron
and
Bob Moses
.
is a relative unknown on the scene, but this album makes for a fine example of a recording newcomer with skill in performance and composition, and a collection of players representing both coasts coming together for a nice mesh. ~ Adam Greenberg