Consisting of Derrick Gardner/tp-fh, Lorne Lofsky/g, Kik MacDonald/ts, Virginia MacDonald/cl, Brian Dickinson/p, Neil Swainson/b and Bernd Reiter/dr, the Canadian Jazz Collective bring a cooperative approach to writing, arranging and performing on this collection of originals. The album has a feel of a vintage Blue Note session, well rehearsed and no one hogging the spotlight, with the three horned harmonies working very well on pieces such as the tasty “The Time Being” and relaxed “One Thing Led To Another”. It’s a treat to hear a clarinet take the lead so often, with some nice riding over the drums by the licorice stick on the shuffling “ Dig That” and fun interplay with Lofsky and Ms MacDonald on “Waltz You Needn’t”. Gardner is in glowing form as always, hiply muted on “Silent Voices” and clear and polished for the easy swinging “Shadows”. No show-offs, but a lot to show.Canadian Jazz Collective: Septology-The Black Forest Session
Consisting of Derrick Gardner/tp-fh, Lorne Lofsky/g, Kik MacDonald/ts, Virginia MacDonald/cl, Brian Dickinson/p, Neil Swainson/b and Bernd Reiter/dr, the Canadian Jazz Collective bring a cooperative approach to writing, arranging and performing on this collection of originals. The album has a feel of a vintage Blue Note session, well rehearsed and no one hogging the spotlight, with the three horned harmonies working very well on pieces such as the tasty “The Time Being” and relaxed “One Thing Led To Another”. It’s a treat to hear a clarinet take the lead so often, with some nice riding over the drums by the licorice stick on the shuffling “ Dig That” and fun interplay with Lofsky and Ms MacDonald on “Waltz You Needn’t”. Gardner is in glowing form as always, hiply muted on “Silent Voices” and clear and polished for the easy swinging “Shadows”. No show-offs, but a lot to show.