COMPOSERS: MONTEREY QUARTET
LABELS: MUF Records
PERFORMER: MONTEREY QUARTET
CATALOGUE NO: MJZF31244.2
This stellar quartet came together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Monterey Jazz Festival, and it would be hard to imagine a better birthday treat. The opening track, Eric Harland’s stunning composition ‘Treachery’, hits the spot immediately and it seems inconceivable that the band will be able to maintain this level of excitement and inspiration – but it does.
Each musician contributed two tunes to the session, and they all prompt adventurous and well-developed solos.Chris Potter has been one of the finest saxophonists around for years, yet has never quite achieved the public profile and wide recognition of a Brecker, Redman or Lovano – but he’s not yet 40 so there’s still time.
Harland is one of those admirable drummers who pays close attention to colour and structure without ever losing the pulse. Not that Dave Holland and Gonzalo Rubalcaba need much help, and their supple negotiation of tricky time signatures is a joy. Barry Witherden