Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Opus 5: Swing On This

Opus 5: Swing On This

By Paul Beard
August 4, 2022
View read count

Recorded in September 2021, at the Samurai Hotel Recording Studio under the direction of Mike Marciano, this is the fifth album from contemporary jazz group, Opus 5. Entitled Swing On This, it comprises eight tracks that average around seven minutes each.

Hailing from the Netherlands, Opus 5 is a stylish quintet made up of

Seamus Blake

saxophone
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Seamus Blake on tenor saxophone and

Alex Sipiagin

trumpet
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, with drums by

Donald Edwards

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Donald Edwards, bass in the hands of

Boris Kozlov

bass, acoustic
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Boris Kozlov and last but by no means least,

David Kikoski

piano
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">David Kikoski in charge of piano and Fender Rhodes. All these musicians have worked with other prominent projects such as the

Mingus Big Band

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Mingus Big Band,

Eric Clapton

guitar and vocals
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Clapton and

Elvis Costello

vocals
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Elvis Costello. Here then is a proper little 'supergroup.'

The story behind their formation starts in 2010 when Sipiagin and Blake were sitting in Chicago's O'Hare airport awaiting a connecting flight and brainstorming ideas over a few pre-journey drinks. They decided to put a new group together and managed to recruit long time friends and colleagues Kikoski, Edwards and Kozlov. The first album was released in 2011 and the rest, as they say, is history.

The album itself does have a professional feel to it, as you would expect from such accomplished musicians. Jazz specialist label Criss Cross has been involved from the start, too. The opener, written for the guys by trumpter/composer George Fontenette, is also the disc's title track. It begins with strong brass that continues throughout this technical, up-tempo number.

Up next is "Pythagoras." Donald Edward's drums provide a backdrop to the mellow tenor sax and the sharpness of Sipiagin's trumpet. "Moonbay" sidles in next and with its laidback warmth and a relaxed feel. "Fermata" is the longest track at two minutes shy of eleven minutes, and here, David Kikoski's piano and organ input comes to the fore, melding so well with the modern beat sound that pervades the whole of this album.

The final track is a cover of

Bobby Watson

saxophone, alto
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Watson's "In Case You Missed It," which rounds out the album perfectly, becoming a fitting conclusion to a most enjoyable album..

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Swing On This; Pythagoras; Moonbay; Fermata; Finger Painted Swing; Sight Vision; The Great Divide; In Case You Missed It.

Personnel

Opus 5

band / ensemble / orchestra

Seamus Blake

saxophone

Alex Sipiagin

trumpet

David Kikoski

piano

Boris Kozlov

bass, acoustic

Donald Edwards

drums

Album information

Title: Swing On This | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Criss Cross

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Human Feel: Speak To It
< Previous

The Deep
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.