Here’s an exciting release out of The Windy City. Shawn Maxwell plays reeds and woodwinds while leading a creative non-ette that mixes intricate jazz with baroque fugue elements to end up with a unique-sounding force of nature. Besides the rhythm section of Marc Piane/b, Paul Townsend/dr, Mitch Corso/g and Stacy McMichael/b, Maxwell adds the voice without lyrics of Keri Johnsrud as well as textures of French horns from Rachel Maxwell & Meghan Fulton along with vibes from Stephen Lynerd and soprano sax from Chris Greene.
You’ve got 18, count ‘em, eighteen songs here, ranging from 1 ½ to 8 minutes, so while there is room for some improvisation as with some horn work on “Iynes Crayons” and “Bitty Bitty Beep” the emphasis is on clever arrangements. Thus “Fun Five Funk” has an upbeat mix of Johnsrud’s velvet voice and Maxwell’s erudite alto veering around a winding road, whereas Bach meets John Kirby of the clever “Waiting Food” and “Pistols N’ Tulips.” A klezmer feel emanates from Maxwell’s clarinet on “Shadowbox” and his flute floats on “Little Ninja Groove,” but it’s the fascinating seques and rotating and evolving doors of the whole team that keeps your ears on their toes. Fun and smart!
Chicago Sessions