Search - Anton Schwartz :: Slow Lane

The title Anton Schwartz chose for his second release gives a pretty clear indication of the San Francisco tenor saxophonist's approach to jazz: thoughtful, composed, and leisurely. Don't be fooled, however: this approach doesn't necessarily imply that every song must be subtle or quiet. Schwartz's passionate, assured work on his own "Don't Ask" and the gently funky reworking of "Come Rain or Come Shine" is proof that he's not aloof or overly cerebral (despite his standing as a bona-fide intellectual). That said, the most serene moments here are often the most rewarding. On standards like "Born to Be Blue" and Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge," he's both tender and sultry. Schwartz offers several beautiful originals as well, including "Then Again" and especially "Peace Dollar"--his crowning achievement--a wonderfully exotic, reflective, and deliberate composition inspired by a performance by (the former Dollar Brand) Abdullah Ibrahim. Schwartz plays with an appealing grace and sophistication that allows him to say very much with very little as the remainder of his quartet listens intently and colors in around him. --Marc Greilsamer