Fresh off a regional "best instrumentalist" award, sax virtuoso
Mark Taylor
returned to bandleader efforts with 2009's
Spectre
, a romp through a fair set of originals. Most compositions here come directly from
Taylor
's pen, but there are a few additional items -- two contributions from pianist
Gary Fukushima
and one from bassist
Jeff Johnson
, and one entry from
Jim Knapp
, a big-band leader with whom
had been keeping busy over the course of a couple of albums. The mood is relaxed here, with the players showing their formidable skills but never showing off their formidable skills.
holds up an excellent front on the sax, alternately exploring the ranges (as in the brief
"Lucid"
) and crooning (as in
"Fleeting"
).
Fukushima
twinkles in the opening track, makes ethereal Fender Rhodes movements in the second track, and scrambles frenetically in the excellent
"Persiflage."
All that, and he comps in the background ably throughout the album.
provides a strong bass foundation and some surprising solos, as is his common way with albums, and drummer
Byron Vannoy
makes himself noticed only in his strong solos, or in the startling nature of his careful absences (as during
's solo in
"Persiflage"
). It's an adventurous album, with both new and old ideas floating around and mingling with one another. The players provide exceptional views into the heart of the compositions, and one simply can't go wrong with the energy and virtuosity of
~ Adam Greenberg