Quint5t

This quintet isn’t one that requires one to introduce the musicians; the names that make up
this band speak for themselves. An all-star aggregation, these five have at least two centuries
of experience between them. The risk with this type of group is that big egos grasping for the
spotlight will cancel each other out, leaving a bitter aftertaste, that of a missed opportunity. It
becomes readily apparent that in this case, one is in the presence of gentlemen who have
nothing further to prove—and that changes everything. In their jazz these teammates, always
ready to push the limits, place themselves in the service of the music that they create. What
they want oozes out of every pore, their intent quite real. Their enthusiasm is a pleasure to
hear, and their youthful spirit easily reminds one of many thirty-somethings in the jazz industry.
By turn musicians, composers, and bandleaders, they bring to their new musical edifice the
stuff to construct a luxurious jazz palace. From start to finish they bathe the listener in
excellence and elegance, and it’s not hard to imagine that they could continue this adventure as
long as they have things to say. Their jazz is more than simply alive: it vibrates with
creativity, ingenuity and musicality. And for us, this seems very much like a landmark
recording.