Album review: Neil Swainson Quintet - 49th Parallel

Woody Shaw (trumpet); Joe Henderson (tenor sax); Gary Williamson (piano); Neil Swainson  (bass); Jerry Fuller (drums).

Jazz, I hardly need mentioning on these pages - preaching to the converted is the phrase that springs to mind - has developed in leaps and bounds over the years. From its humble beginnings in New Orleans, the music developed to become the influential force it is today.

Anyone who refutes that statement need only listen to a TV advert or a CD by a pop/rock band. Whether they realise it or not, every note played probably has roots traceable to anywhere between Bourbon St. and 52nd St.

However, jazz never stands still and jazz musicians, like their classical counterparts, were/are ever searching for the lost chord. One doubts that they will ever find it. Some, in their quest to find the illusive harmonic device, simply turned their backs on harmony and blew how they felt - a lot of them must have felt pretty bad.

Fortunately, others such as the guys playing here, found their way when chords - the more complex the better - were the norm even though their chosen chords rarely agreed with the composer's except that, on this occasion, they were the composers (Swainson 6, Henderson 1).

Recorded in Canada in 1988 when the world was a happier place - apart from terrorists at home and abroad -  the two hardest boppers of the time were working in Toronto with native bass player Neil Swainson and the result as reported in an earlier preview were sensational.

With all due respect to other forms of jazz both before, afterwards, beyond and outside, this typifies the music I had in mind when I first started this blog - long may it continue ...

Lance.

On Record Store Day (August 29) this once rare collector's item will be available on vinyl in limited edition form whilst, on Sept. 11, it will be up for grabs on deluxe CD, digital and streaming platforms via the usual online hawkers.