Blessed

SCOTT NEUMANN NEU3 TRIO: Blessed
Origin, 2013

MODERN JAZZ – Drummer Scott Neumann leads an excellent trio (with Michael Blake on saxes and Mark Helias on bass) through an upbeat but serious-minded set of well-crafted original tunes. The trio has a pleasing mix of focused intensity and friendly interplay. Sax and bass each get plenty of solo space while Neumann mostly keeps a flexible drive going, making lots of subtle statements behind the others.

Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10

1. 5:28 – uptempo swinger, catchy with some twists: sax explores, bass digs
2. 7:47 – cool solo drum intro; lilting world-jazz tune with soprano sax
3. 6:14 – Roswell Rudd tune: bluesy, low and sneaky with free-moving sax
4. 7:15 – calm, even-tempered sneak: sax growls, cool bass/sax unison break
5. 7:25 – upbeat, off-center swing: playful solos, jaunty rhythm, tempo shifts
6. 5:29 – slow heartfelt elegy, beautiful interplay, soprano sax stretches forth
7. 4:07 – snappy swinging groove; agile sax, bass/drums trade off
8. 5:15 – playfully mysterious tune with melodica, slouching/march rhythms
9. 4:50 – relaxed: overdub saxes in close harmony, wide-open trio interplay
10. 5:18 – happy little stomping jam, just a hint of down-home country flavor

[ Fo ] - 11 August 2013