The Turning Gate
LXO | Fountain Valley, CA. United States | 01/15/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Awesome CD!!! I purchased it on the strength of a track "The New" I heard on a local Jazz radio station one day. If you're a true afficionado or just a casual lover of "Jazz" you'll really dig this cut. The first time I listened to the whole CD I felt like the previously mentioned cut was the only one I really liked. But then.. the more I listened and let it digest, I was like WOW! this joint is real. I'm very glad I decided to buy this CD! If you're even slightly feeling my words, buy this piece! You won't be disappointed! There will be something on it for YOU ;)-
Peeese.
Mr. J."
Like a less-famous SF Jazz Collective
Anthony Cooper | Louisville, KY United States | 03/01/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Before Joshua Redman pulled together the first SF Jazz Collective octet, David Geiss pulled together the New Jazz Composer's Octet. Instead of A-lister's like Nicholas Payton or Brian Blade, trumpeter David Geiss is playing with veterans Myron Walden on alto, Jimmy Greene on tenor, Norbert Stachel on baritone, Steve Davis on trombone, Xavier Davis on piano, Dwayne Burno on bass, and Nasheet Waits on drums. So what does it sound like when a group of sidemen step up?
The title track, by Geiss, initially put me off because its melody resolves, or doesn't resolve, in an 80's way. I've grown to like it more after listening to it more. Similar to the way the SF Jazz Collective focuses on a composer like Wayne Shorter on each CD, "The Turning Gate" focuses on pianist Xavier Davis' Faith Suite. "New" is the first of six songs. It's midtempo, and not too distinctive, whereas "David And Goliath" turns up the heat. "Once" is a ballad by Dwayne Burno. "Bad Alchemy" is a knotty tempo-shifter. It's a cover of a progressive rock song by Henry Cow. The next four sections of the Faith Suite play with related melodies in different moods and volumes. Myron Walden's "Onward" closes the disc in nice fashion.
The playing and writing is pretty good - I'd give the edge to the playing - and this is a solid 4-star disc. If you get more than one jazz octet disc a year, you should consider "The Turning Gate"."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1