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Hush Point: Hush Point

By Mark Corroto
June 9, 2013
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The quartet Hush Point conjures the possibilities of small group hipness. One that quips instead of guffaws, and prefers covertness to the obvious.

Led by

John McNeil

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">John McNeil, this quartet of saxophonist

Jeremy Udden

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeremy Udden, bassist Aryeh Kobrinksy, and drummer

Vinnie Sperrazza

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Vinnie Sperrazza may be new, but McNeil's sage coolness isn't. The sixty-something trumpeter has been delivering hip since the 1970s with the

Horace Silver

piano
1928 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Horace Silver Quintet and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. As with his previous recordings with saxophonists

Bill McHenry

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill McHenry, Chill Morn He Climb Jenny (Sunnyside, 2010) and

Allan Chase

saxophone, alto
b.1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Allan Chase East Coast Cool (Omnitone, 2006), McNeil chooses congenial partners. Udden's alto recalls the sound of

Paul Desmond

saxophone, alto
1924 - 1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Desmond and

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Konitz, and the rhythm section of Sperrazza and Kobrinksy are primed for sonorous expression.

Drawing from a West Coast tradition (McNeil was born in California, but is a longtime East Coaster) the music summons a

Jimmy Giuffre

clarinet
1921 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Giuffre/

Shorty Rogers

trumpet
1924 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Shorty Rogers vibe. Covering two Giuffre compositions, "Iranic" and "The Train And The River," the quartet exudes a genial prosperity with Udden sounding extra dry throughout. Sperrazza sticks solely to brushes here, which effectively allows the players to utilize a wider range of sound. With little competition for space, Udden and McNeil tradeoff with a fair trade sound. McNeil's trumpet purrs and growls, yet maintains an affable illumination. Udden's "B. Remembered," written for

Bob Brookmeyer

trombone
1929 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Brookmeyer, summons early

Chet Baker

trumpet and vocals
1929 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Chet Baker/

Gerry Mulligan

saxophone, baritone
1927 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerry Mulligan sounds. McNeil's "Get Out"(based on "Get Happy") is an insouciant gambol of sound. The formalized casual nature of Hush Point is its calling card.

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Track Listing

Iranic; Peaceful; B. Remembered; Bar Talk; Fathers And Sons; Finely Done; New Bolero; The Train And The River; Get Out; Cat Magnet.

Personnel

John McNeil

trumpet

John McNeil: trumpet; Jeremy Udden: alto saxophone; Aryeh Kobrinksy: bass; Vinnie Sperrazza: drums.

Album information

Title: Hush Point | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Sunnyside Records

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