he mark of a really good jazz group is the interaction between the members of that group. Here, saxophonist Dan Willis is surrounded by some exceptional musicians to create some of the most exciting jazz that I've heard in quite some time. Not only is the playing terrific, but the writing - all but one song is penned by Willis - also shines.
Willis, who is a mainstay in tne New York City area, teams up with a highly imaginative rhythm section. While Willis' sax playing is good, it is guitarist Ben Monder who really kicks this band into gear. Monder can conjure up images of Pat Metheny and John Scofield, as well as an original voice. And drummer Hollenbeck keeps the groove flowing throughout.
The album kicks off with a rollicking "Hankerin'", with a killer guitar solo by Monder. The rhythm section really shines on "Buffalo", where both bass and drums do a great job. Gress has his moment on "Homegrown", which is a jazzy-hoedown tune. Willis shines on "Do You Good", a soulful waltz, but it is "Oddly Enough" that Willis makes his point. This is a fast paced bebop tune that really showcases Willis' songwriting skills.
The highlight for me was "Tell Me What You Saw", a very moody piece. This starts out soft, and then the band kicks it up a notch and starts to rock! A very wild guitar solo is played by Monder on this song. "Each Answer" is a beautiful ballad that showcases Willis' soprano playing. The album ends on "Home", which sounds very much like Pat Metheny's "Two Folk Songs" which was on his 80/81 album. This is some very exciting music from a group who deserves wider recognition. Willis is clearly a talented composer as well as a musician, and this recording is an absolute joy to listen to. Highly recommended!
he mark of a really good jazz group is the interaction between the members of that group. Here, saxophonist Dan Willis is surrounded by some exceptional musicians to create some of the most exciting jazz that I've heard in quite some time. Not only is the playing terrific, but the writing - all but one song is penned by Willis - also shines.
