Brian Settles Central Union - Secret Handshake [Engine]

Brian Settles - saxophone
Neil Podgurski - piano
Corcoran Holt - bass
Jeremy Carlstedt - drums
Jean Marie Collatin-Faye - percussion

Engine Studios 2011

I remember already writing about how exciting it is to be introduced to new names in improvised music - no expectations can lead to great and surprising discoveries, while they can't really dissapoint you too much (worst case scenario they leave you vaguely indifferent). Which is very cynical way to look at it I guess, but for me most importantly every new name I meet is a testimony to how rich the world of music really is and how much great music is being made today (no thanks to those propheting everywhere the death of jazz, rock or else).

Harrison Bankhead Sextet - Morning Sun / Harvest Moond [Engine]

Harrison Bankhead - bass
Ed Wilkerson - tenor sax, clarinet, alto clarinet, didgeridoo
Mars Williams - alto, tenor, soprano and sopranino sax, clarinet, autoharp, wooden flute
James Sanders - violin
Avreeayl Ra - drums, percussion, wooden flute
Ernie Adams - percussion

Engine Records 2011

Harrison Bankhead appeared on numerous sessions and has been playing regularly with the most important figures of Chicagoan AACM scene like Fred Anderson, Roscoe Mitchell or Nicole Mitchell, but (to my knowledge) this is his first session as a leader.

"Morning Sun / Harvest Moond" starts the album gentle as a breeze, fragile indeed like the sun beams of the morning sun, with soft intertwining lines by two flutes and two string instruments. Violin sound is enchantingly beautiful.

"Chicago Senorita" that follows is driven by a strong melodic bass groove, double percussion and staccato horn line - all just a platform to violin solo that starts charmingly melodic to slowly gain bit wilder momentum, groove is incessant as the music dances forward, light and joyful. The piece ends with ethnic percussion solo that keeps the dance alive.