Dave Phillips & Freedance: CONFLUENCE – [Innova, 2012] –

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Bassist, Composer, Dave Phillips, Glen Fitten, innova.mu, John O' Gallagher, Jon Werking, Rez Abbasi, Tony Moreno

“Living at a time when tradition and sameness seem to be the norm, it’s so great to hear music that dares to take chances, mixes it up and gives plenty of room for the imagination to stretch out.” —Jazz guitarist John Abercrombie

Dave Phillips & Freedance, CONFLUENCE

Dave Phillips & Freedance: CONFLUENCE –Mp3– [Innova, 2012] –

On his fourth album as a leader, New York bassist and composer Dave Phillips takes his quartet Freedance to brand new places. The sole vehicle for Phillips’ writing since he moved to New York City in 1985, the core group consists of guitarist Rez Abbasi, alto saxophonist John O’Gallagher and drummer Tony Moreno. Confluence is true to its name: a collection of eight works that blend folklike melodies, mixed meters and dynamic instrumental interplay to create a modern chamber jazz sound.

Dan Wilensky -][- Back in The Mix [Speechless Productions, 2012 | Review]

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Dan Wilensky, Dean Johnson, Jazz, Mark Soskin, Russ Johnson, Tenor Saxophone, Tony Moreno

Dan Wilensky, Back in the Mix

Dan Wilensky -][- Back in The Mix –MP3– [Speechless Productions, 2012 | Review]

Ann Arbor, Michigan born saxophonist and composer Dan Wilensky joins us with his forth recording to illustrate his virtuosity, hard-working and endless pursuit to score new songs and re-invent the shape of timeless classics meshed together to underscored with precision on his latest “Back in The Mix.”

Thus far, I’m pleasantly surprised with Wilensky’s crisp and vibrant tonality, he noticeably enunciates his sound through the vine of nine lively and abstemious tunes which in essence solidifies his presence for new and seasoned listeners alike.
Out of the gate, I immediately hear why the legendary Ray Charles added Wilensky (who at the time just graduated from high school) as lead alto player for his big band. Wilensky called his analogous colleagues Mark Soskin on piano, Dean Johnson – bass, Tony Moreno plays drums and Russ Johnson on trumpet is here to serve up a palette of scrumptious grooves.