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The Shuffle Demons: All In

By Jack Bowers
February 15, 2022
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With a three-saxophone front line and no piano, Canada's Shuffle Demons could be mistaken for the legendary

Gerry Mulligan

saxophone, baritone
1927 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerry Mulligan Quartet on steroids—could be, that is, until one hears the music, which bears scant resemblance to the West Coast cool espoused by Mulligan,

" data-original-title="" title="">Chet Baker and their colleagues. In other words, they're not called Shuffle Demons for nothing.

When not shuffling, the Demons are otherwise brash and busy on their tenth album, All In, whose ten numbers were written by various members of the quintet, which includes two tenors—

Kelly Jefferson

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Kelly Jefferson,

Matt Lagan

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Lagan—and alto/baritone

Richard Underhill

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Richard Underhill, supported by bassist

Mike Downes

bass
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Downes and drummer

Stich Wynston

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Stich Wynston. Even the blues—"COVID Blues" in this case—are met head on at a pace so swift and vigorous that they are readily subdued. All In is the antithesis of blue, and "COVID Blues" is arguably the most free-spirited number on the album.

Underhill, he of the alto and baritone, wrote half a dozen of the album's selections, tenor Lagan two, bassist Downes "All In," drummer Wynston the "COVID Blues." Underhill's "Walk the Walk" and "Let's Play" veer closest to abandoning the shuffle beat in favor of a more straight-on approach, but even here the shuffle is ever-nigh. Wynston is quite comfortable in either groove, and has a chance to brandish the entire drum kit on Underhill's limber "Inside Out." As for solos, they are by and large well-knit and respectable, with the occasional squawk or squeal to make sure the audience is awake and paying attention.

The Shuffle Demons, according to their online bio, have been performing together for almost four decades, so anything they do (or wear) is undoubtedly well-planned rather than spur-of-the-moment. All In, it must be assumed, went according to plan. Whether or not that plan is up to snuff is for the listener to decide.

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Track Listing

All In; One Step Ahead; Wait, What?; Watch Your Step; Five's Company; COVID Blues; Walk The Walk; Strange Days; Inside Out; Let's Play.

Personnel

Richard Underhill

saxophone, alto

Kelly Jefferson

saxophone, tenor

Matt Lagan

saxophone

Mike Downes

bass

Stich Wynston

drums

Album information

Title: All In | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Stubby Records

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