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The State of the Tenor 2009: AJ Kluth and Ricky Sweum
AJ Kluth
saxophone, tenorb.1980
Ricky Sweum
saxophoneb.1974
AJ Kluth QuintetTwice Now
Origin Records
2009
Chicago-native AJ Kluth was educated at that city's DePaul University before freelancing around the Midwest and transcribing and self-publishing a book of Chris Potter solos. On Twice Now he leads a guitar anchored quintet through nine lengthy and provocative pieces, seven of which were composed by Kluth or guitarist Nick Ascher.
The simpatico between Kluth and Ascher extends from the pair's compositions to their respective performances. Although under Kluth's name, Twice Now is effectively a collaborative effort by the saxophonist and guitarist.
The relationship between the two, as well as with pianist Sean McCluskey, is defined on the Ascher composition "Red" that opens the disc. Over McCluskey's spare piano chording, Kluth and Ascher double on a devilishly complex melody line. While Kluth is more 
Michael Brecker
saxophone, tenor
1949 - 2007
Wayne Shorter
saxophone
1933 - 2023
Sonny Rollins
saxophone
b.1930
John Abercrombie
guitar
1944 - 2017
John Scofield
guitar
b.1951
Kluth and Ascher achieve a delicate dance of counterpoint throughout the disc, easily heard on "A Time, Times, And Half Time" and "Wi Fi," the latter containing a lyrical solo by McCluskey on acoustic piano. "Quiet, Then Go" is a breezy Kluth ballad accentuating the stronger points of Kluth and Ascher's slower soloing. 
Chick Corea
piano
1941 - 2021
Ascher's airy ballad "Sleeping" dovetails well into one of the more inspired covers in recent memory, Thom York's "Atoms For Peace."
Visit AJ Kluth on the web.
Pulling Your Own Strings
Ricky Sweum
Origin Records
2009
There are several similarities between AJ Kluth and Ricky Sweum's Origin Arts recordings. Both recordings find the principals doubling on tenor and soprano saxophones. Both recordings host prominent roles for guitarists, in Sweum's case, Wayne Wilkerson. Both recordings feature a majority of finely crafted jazz originals, fresh as spring and sharp as a dry Fall day. Where the two differ is the foundation of their playing.
Where Kluth is investigating the edges of his art, Sweum approaches his with greater care, nodding toward tradition, specifically the influence of Sonny Rollins. Sweum comes by this honestly. Raised in Eugene, Oregon, Sweum joined the United States Air Force, performing with the Falconaires in Colorado and the US Air Force Band of the West in San Antonio, Texas. In between, he attended William Paterson University and toured with various other bands.
It is refreshing to hear a tenor saxophonist escaping 
John Coltrane
saxophone
1926 - 1967
Wilkerson is a well-behaved acolyte of 
Joe Pass
guitar
1929 - 1994
Herb Ellis
guitar
1921 - 2010
Visit Ricky Sweum on the web.
Tracks and Personnel
Twice Now
Tracks: Red; Revolutions; A Time, Times, And Half A Time; Wi Fi; Quiet, Then Go; Litha; Coliseum; Sleeping; Atoms For Peace.
Personnel: AJ Kluth: tenor and soprano saxophones; Nick Ascher: electric guitar; Sean McCluskey: keyboards; Cory Biggerstaff: bass; Stephan Czestachowski: drums.
Pulling Your Own Strings
Tracks: Yesterday's Tomorrow; Hot Sonny Day; Nice Pants; Pulling Your Own Strings; The Dance Etterno; Sunset Iraq; Under Sonny's Bridge; It's Indicative; State Of Acceptance; Piebald City; Ben And Jerry's Delight.
Personnel: Ricky Sweum: tenor and soprano saxophones; Wayne Wilkerson: guitar; Jason Crowe: bass; Henrique De Almeida: drums.
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