Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » John Wojciechowski: Focus

John Wojciechowski: Focus

By Dan Bilawsky
November 5, 2015
View read count

Every now and then you encounter a musician who has it together in so many ways, yet has largely managed to avoid national recognition. Saxophonist John Wojciechowski is one such player.

While those with strong enough memories might recall that the Michigan-bred Wojciechowski took third place—behind

Jon Gordon

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Gordon and

Jimmy Greene

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Greene—at the 1996

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, those same people may come up empty on this figure after that. But that's not because there's nothing to know. While Wojciechowski's leader discography is extremely slim, with Lexicon (Self Produced, 2009) as the only date to his name before this album, he's made his presence felt on a variety of recordings and in a variety of contexts both before and since relocating to the Chicago area in 2002.

Wojciechowski has become one of pianist

Ryan Cohan

piano
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Ryan Cohan's strongest allies, he's a key figure in the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, and his voice has been woven into the work of rising star pianist

Jacob Sacks

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jacob Sacks. And when he's not busy playing, he can stake claim to being one of the only world-class jazz musicians to maintain a steady high school teaching gig. He spends his days teaching music theory, directing the orchestra, and working with the jazz bands at St. Charles North High School, so it's no wonder that he hasn't had more time to focus on his own music and record under his own name. But focus he did when putting together this incredible program.

Focus finds Wojciechowski on top of the world. He's in great performing shape, his first-class writing is front-and-center for all to hear, and he's working with a killer quartet consisting of Cohan and the rhythm section from Lexicon—bassist

Dennis Carroll

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Dennis Carroll and drummer

Dana Hall

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Dana Hall. Everything is in its right place and the resultant music reflects that fact. Wojciechowski announces his arrival with the title track, a number notable for its off-beat eighth note piano riff, clattering and amped-up drumming, and solo-driven, rise-and-retreat intensity levels. From there, Hall takes the reins, turning a ceremonial tom solo into a call to arms on "Call Of The Kingdom." That solo miniature segues directly into "Summon The Elders," a bluesy and moody Cotrane-ish number with a sloping line in seven. Carroll grounds the music, Cohan and Wojciechowski deliver the goods, Hall hits hard with an

Elvin Jones

drums
1927 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Elvin Jones-meets-

Jeff Tain Watts

drums
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Tain Watts mindset, and lively 4/4 swing appears when you least expect it. It's an obvious highlight on an album with many.

A list of other standout performances would have to include "Elegy," a somewhat introspective piece honoring Wojciechowski's late father; a personalized take on Monk's "Evidence," working off of a 2-3 clave pattern and evolving into something swing-centric at its core; "Divided Man," reflecting the teaching-performing duality in the saxophonist's life; and a strong-minded, piano-less trio take on

Dave Brubeck

piano
1920 - 2012

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Brubeck's "In Your Own Sweet Way." All of it adds up to one terrific listen. If this doesn't raise Wojciechowski's profile on the national scene, nothing will.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Focus; Call Of The Kingdom; Summon The Elders; Ternary; Elegy; Twirl; Evidence; Divided Man; The Listener; In Your Own Sweet Way.

Personnel

John Wojciechowski

saxophone, tenor

John Wojciechowski: soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone; Ryan Cohan: piano, Fender Rhodes; Dennis Carroll: bass; Dana Hall: drums.

Album information

Title: Focus | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Origin Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Steve Herberman, Hristo Vitchev, Ri...
< Previous

Two Releases From Wolfgang Seligo
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.