Brian Landrus (baritone sax & various 'low reeds'); Nir Felder (gtr); Lonnie Plaxico (bs); Rudy Royston (dms); Frank Carlberg (pno/keys); Mark Feldman (vln); Ryan Truesdale (cond.); Feldman String Quartet.
(Review by Lance).
Composer Landrus - Master of the Low Reeds - has created an intriguing album that merges his quintet Kaleidoscope with the Feldman String Quartet.
The 'low reeds', apart from baritone sax, comprise bass clarinet, bass flute, contra alto flute and bass saxophone all played by 'The Master' at varying times. That he is adept (or should that be adepth?) on these subterranean horns goes without saying - he's been a Down Beat Rising Star on bari for the past 3 years.
The compositions and arrangements are all by Landrus and the skilful way he merges jazz quintet with string quartet must have been inspired by the time he spent studying with Bob Brookmeyer at New England Conservatory. The late trombonist was an inspiration to many.
My conventional side favours his baritone sax work but my usually well concealed quirky side has a liking for Landrus on bass clarinet and contra alto flute - I worked in a music shop for many years and I don't think I ever saw one of those - maybe I thought it had something to do with the plumbing!
The final track - Kismet - is described as a solo bass saxophone soliloquy and I couldn't sum it up any better.
Not that this is all Landrus. Felder's guitar solos are aces high and the string quartet is the gravy that makes all the difference to the Sunday Dinner.
Recommended to everyone but Piccolo Pete.
Mirage by Brian Landrus Kaleidoscope is slated for release on Tuesday June 25 on BlueLand Records. Check it out.
Lance.
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