Todd Coolman – Perfect Strangers – ArtistShare0084, 58:41 ****:
(Todd Coolman – bass; Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone; Brian Lynch – trumpet; Jim McNeely – piano; John Riley – drums; Jon Faddis – producer)
On his third outing as a leader, Perfect Strangers, bassist and music educator Todd Coolman takes a unique approach to collaboration. All of the original material was submitted to Coolman’s ArtistShare website, from an open call for compositions via his Internet-based learning community project. The risk paid off. Coolman found some wonderfully winning work from unknown composers, ranging in age from 17 to 67, which his quintet used to produce this recording.
One of the reasons this undertaking succeeds so well is the talented crew Coolman brought together. Top-drawer tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander has been a solo artist since the early 1990s and has performed with Kenny Barron, Eddie Henderson, and others. Trumpeter Brian Lynch has worked professionally for several decades, both as a leader and as a member of the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and the Phil Woods Quintet. Pianist Jim McNeely also has an extensive multi-decades career, releasing several albums on his own as well as associations with the Mel Lewis Orchestra, the Stan Getz Quartet, the Phil Woods Quintet, Bobby Watson, Art Farmer, and Joe Henderson. Drummer John Riley’s credits include stints with Woody Herman, Bob Mintzer, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and many others.
Needless to say, these guys could use the phone book to come up with some intriguing improvisations. But in this case, the five musicians match their considerable skills with some new and inspiring bop-aligned compositions.
The program begins with the swinging "Crescent City Ditty," which deftly leaps back and forth from a hard bop hop to an organic New Orleans second line groove, highlighted by Lynch’s keen, high-note charge, McNeely’s agile single-note keyboard expertise, and Alexander’s confident tenor moves. The fivesome slow down on the musing "Full Circle," a consummate climate for McNeely’s light touch, followed by some illustrious Lynch and Alexander solos. Lynch’s warm trumpet sound and McNeely’s calm and collected timbre maintain a firm, romantic pulse. Coolman’s bass provides a nuanced backdrop for McNeely, while Riley makes efficient use of his cymbals, particularly a limber hi-hat attack.
The longest piece is "Connotation," a hard bop cut composed by 17-year old Dana Malseptic, which amazingly also contains the record’s most difficult changes. It is remarkable a teenager created this multifold tune. Malseptic’s complexity and level of compositional maturity affords a chance for the band to show its abundant range. Alexander expounds some athletic tenor sections, Lynch layers in his lancing trumpet for some up-tempo blowing, and Coolman adds a tapering bass solo.
Two of the best tracks are "Could You Imagine" and "Caribbean Sunset." Alexander shines on both. The cheerful "Could You Imagine" starts with the horns playing the melody in unison, before Alexander ignites with a volley of fiery notes while McNeely, Coolman, and Riley overlay some accented alterations. Lynch then presents a crackling solo, followed by another sharply etched McNeely improvisation. Near the end, Riley slips in some cutting rhythmic seams that tie together the trumpet and tenor saxophone call and response. The frisky "Caribbean Sunset" has a smooth tropical tang. Coolman, McNeely and Alexander sustain a light mood throughout, while Riley makes dexterous use of his drum kit’s rims, hi-hat, and cymbals.
The ensemble closes with the beautiful ballad "Pastorale," a fine and moving number that showcases the players’ sensitivity and personal closeness. It’s an expert and sublimely understated way to finish the hour-long realization.
Perfect Strangers is an uncommon example of creative musicians and unknown composers connecting together. New writers often go unheard, so a big thanks to Coolman and ArtistShare for this opportunity, so new music can be listened to and appreciated.
TrackList:
1. Crescent City Ditty
2. Full Circle
3. Connotation
4. Could You Imagine
5. C Minor Waltz
6. Caribbean Sunset
7. Pastorale
— Doug Simpson
