Search - Alex Sipiagin Quintet :: Steppin' Zone

Jazz--the universal musical language.

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 11/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How as a Russian emigre jazz trumpeter do you get Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums), Chris Potter (tenor sax), Scott Colley (bass), and Dave Kikoski (piano), by all accounts a world-class band, to play on your album? You've got to have the goods, that's how. And Alex Sipiagin has 'em. I was impressed by his initial effort, Images, but this is a huge step forward. Everything sounds effortless--the trickiest doubling passages ("Conception"), the reckless postbop of the Metheny gem, "Missouri Uncompromised," the sheer beauty of the title cut, Steppin' Zone--probably because everyone's a consummate pro.Amazingly, Sipiagin sounds the most accomplished and at ease of any of the players; perhaps that's because it's his gig, but I think it goes beyond that. To be fair, everyone plays his butt off, and Dave Kikoski continuously shines on piano, but I'd rate his effort just below that of the leader's. And what can I say about Tain Watts except that once again he proves he's probably the premier jazz drummer on the scene today. Scott Colley, emerging as a top bassist--better than Christian McBride, in my humble opinion--is all over his instrument, lending monster support and the occasional tasty solo. If you have any affinity at all for modernist postbop jazz, by all means pick up on this fabulous release."