Nominated in Canada for Best Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year, this disc is an impressive display of the playing and composing skills of alto saxist Allison Au. Her quartet is composed of Todd Pentney/key, Jonathan Maharaj/b, Fabio Ragnelli/dr and is augmented by Felicity Williams’ voice on the gently driving “Birdy.” Au’s tone on alto is fluffy and full of breath, usually wihin the mid to lower register, and can make it float on ballads such as “La-Da’Dee” and the velvety “Tired Face.” She can slither around assertive percussion as on the kinetic “What Went With The Wind” and provides some punch on “The Bridge at Night.” The whole team stretches out on the CTI-ish funk jam that closes the album, with a mix of hip hop, free form and even a two way lecture/conversation. Impressive outing.
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