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Neil Swainson: Fire In The West

By Jack Bowers
January 17, 2023
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It's hard to believe that 35 years have flown by between the release of bassist

Neil Swainson

bass, acoustic
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Neil Swainson's debut album, 49th Parallel (Concord Jazz), and his second, Fire in the West, recorded in November 2021 and released nine months later. But Swainson was hardly in hibernation during those years, as he has been one of Canada's busiest and most sought-after sidemen, traveling the world while working with the likes of

George Shearing

piano
1919 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">George Shearing,

Woody Shaw

trumpet
1944 - 1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Woody Shaw,

Marian McPartland

piano
1918 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Marian McPartland,

Sonny Stitt

saxophone
1924 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Stitt,

Slide Hampton

trombone
1932 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Slide Hampton,

James Moody

woodwinds
1925 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">James Moody,

Lee Konitz

saxophone, alto
1927 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Konitz,

Jay McShann

piano
1909 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Jay McShann,

George Coleman

saxophone, tenor
b.1935

" data-original-title="" title="">George Coleman,

Diana Krall

piano and vocals
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Diana Krall,

Joe Henderson

saxophone
1937 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Henderson,

Roberta Gambarini

vocals
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Roberta Gambarini, Joe and

Pat LaBarbera

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Pat LaBarbera,

Mel Torme

vocals
1925 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Mel Torme and a host of other notable headliners.

When the time came to record again, Swainson wanted to make sure he had everything right, from the compositions (he wrote and arranged every number) to the sidemen: trumpeter

Brad Turner

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Turner and tenor saxophonist

Kelly Jefferson

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Kelly Jefferson on the front line, pianist

Renee Rosnes

piano
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Renee Rosnes and drummer

Lewis Nash

drums
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Lewis Nash blending with Swainson to comprise the quintet's blue-chip rhythm section. If there are any seams in that garment, they are imperceptible to the eye and inaudible to the ear.

Turner and Jefferson are impressive soloists, as is the always-enchanting Rosnes, while Swainson and Nash have their shining moments as well. As for Swainson's charts, they are post-bop archetypes, giving everyone a broad range of material on which to focus. Tempos are generally moderate to medium with three notable exceptions: the nimble opener, "Fire in the West," the lighthearted "Cascades" and fast-paced finale, "Silver Mine" (dedicated to the legendary hard-bop pianist

Horace Silver

piano
1928 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Horace Silver). Needless to say, the rhythm section is sharp at any tempo, while Turner and Jefferson are never at a loss for a felicitous phrase or two.

To suggest that 35 years between recordings is a touch too long would be an understatement. On the other hand, Swainson's second go-round as leader is so perceptive and pleasing that it was almost worth the wait.

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Track Listing

Fire In The West; Fool's Gold; Cascades; Standing Back; Fell Among Thieves; Kyushu; Late Afternoon; Near North; Gone Away; Silver Mine

Personnel

Neil Swainson

bass, acoustic

Renee Rosnes

piano

Lewis Nash

drums

Brad Turner

trumpet

Kelly Jefferson

saxophone, tenor

Album information

Title: Fire In The West | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Cellar Music Group

Neil Swainson �� Fire in the West

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