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Joe Syrian Motor City Jazz Octet: Secret Message

By Jack Bowers
December 15, 2024
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Joe Syrian Motor City Jazz Octet: Secret Message

No fuss, no frills here, simply forty-seven or so minutes of generally bright and engaging straight-ahead jazz, stylishly performed by drummer Joe Syrian's admirable Detroit-based octet. This is music the group plays often, blending standards from the Great American Songbook with more recent themes by

John Lennon

guitar and vocals
1940 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">John Lennon and

Paul McCartney

bass, electric
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul McCartney,

Stevie Wonder

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Stevie Wonder,

Leon Russell

piano
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Leon Russell and others.

The congenial session opens with a pair of well-traveled standards—"Bye Bye Blackbird," and "Star Eyes"—and closes with two more- -"Night and Day" and "I Should Care." Sandwiched between are the good-natured "People Make the World Go Round" (featuring guest vocalist Kenny Washington and a second visitor,

Joe Locke

vibraphone
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Locke, on vibes), Lennon/McCartney's "Here, There and Everywhere," Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" and Russell's "This Masquerade." The charts, albeit less than demanding, are well-drawn and pleasant, allowing ample blowing space between ensemble passages.

Trumpeter

Nick Marchione

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Nick Marchione, tenor saxophonist

Tim Ries

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Ries, alto/baritone

Carl Maraghi

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">Carl Maraghi, guitarist

Paul Bollenback

guitar
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Bollenback, trombonist

Doug Beavers

trombone
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Doug Beavers and pianist

Adam Birnbaum

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam Birnbaum are among those who eagerly secure that space, enriching the landscape with luminous and coherent statements. Washington, not best known as a vocalist, shows why on "People." In his defense, there is not much to work with here, and even the usually reliable Locke is largely a non-factor, offering a brief and forgettable solo.

Beavers and Ries trade some excellent volleys on "Here, There and Everywhere," while Maraghi's gruff baritone is a welcome presence on "This Masquerade" (as is Ries' sturdy tenor). Marchione, Birnbaum and Syrian are the soloists on "Night and Day," Birnbaum and Ries on an upbeat reading of "I Should Care," arranged (as was "Star Eyes") by

John Fedchock

trombone
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">John Fedchock.

While there is nothing here that is mind-blowing, neither is there anything less than pleasing. A sharp and well-played session of contemporary small-group jazz from start to finish, one that should please almost any admirer of the genre.

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Track Listing

Bye Bye Blackbird; Star Eyes; People Make the World Go Round; Here, There and Everywhere; Don��t You Worry ��Bout a Thing; This Masquerade; Night and Day; I Should Care.

Personnel

Joe Syrian

drums

Carl Maraghi

saxophone, baritone

Tim Ries

saxophone

Nick Marchione

trumpet

Doug Beavers

trombone

Adam Birnbaum

piano

Paul Bollenback

guitar

Lorin Cohen

bass

Dave Rieckenberg

saxophone, tenor

Kenny Washington - Vocals

vocals

Joe Locke

vibraphone

Luisito Quintero

percussion

Album information

Title: Secret Message | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Circle 9 Records

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