Vintage post bop is served by the muscular quintet lead by alto saxist Jim Snidero and his mates Alex Sipiagin/tp, Andy Laverne/p, Ugonna Okegwo/b and Rudy Royston/dr. The veins pop through the flexed biceps on the fervent “MD66” and assertive “Purge” both mixing sophisticated lines with energetic solos. Royston rides the ride cymbal whip like Walter Brennan on the ¾ grooved “Recursion” and teams up with Okegwo to great a languid blues on the pulsed “Free Beauty.”
As with all quintets, the harmonies are what win you over, and the two horns meld like a curry on “Free Beauty” and the softly textured “Blue In Green.” The rhythm team gallps on “Un4scene” and Snidero is richly pungent throughout. No complaints here!
Savant Records