Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » TuneTown: There From Here

TuneTown: There From Here

By Dan McClenaghan
September 10, 2019
View read count

Tracing the historic path of this particular trio type—saxophone, bass and drums, no chordal instrument—leads back to saxophonist

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins' A Night At The Village Vanguard (Blue Note, 1958). The sound on that seminal recording is raw, rough around the edges, with the trio bumping through a bunch of familiar tunes, enjoying the freedom from chords.

There From Here, the debut of the Toronto-based trio Tune Town, employs a smoother approach, with tenor saxophonist

Kelly Jefferson

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Kelly Jefferson sounding more like

Coleman Hawkins

saxophone, tenor
1904 - 1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Coleman Hawkins than Rollins. The compositions are mostly band member originals, with a couple of brief-but-invigorating collective improvisations thrown in, along with a gorgeous, slow-as-molasses take on

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady" and a relaxed, cool-flowing rendition of Cole Porter's "All Of You."

Drummer

Ernesto Cervini

drums
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Ernesto Cervini's "The Monks of Oka," a dedication to composer/pianist

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk and named after ..."the Monks in Quebec who make really stinky cheese" has a sharp-edged zest, a labyrinthine bobbish melody and a relentless jumble of a rhythm. "As She Wonders," from the pen of the group's bassist

Artie Roth

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Artie Roth, lays out a mysterious groove, with saxophonist Jefferson giving the proceedings an eastward lean on the soprano saxophone. Jefferson's "Kindling" finds the saxophonist again on the soprano sax, riding a joyous rhythmic ebullience.

Bassist Roth's "Transient Space" closes the album in a meditative mode, a spacious, understated rumination that seems to exist outside of time—a soundtrack, perhaps, of the room emptied out and the band packing up their instruments, then a wearied (a good wearied) walk on the the dark street back to the van...

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

A Sonic Handshake; The Monks of Oka; As She Wonders; Sophisticated Lady; Split Infinity; All of You; The Mayor; Infinity Past; Kindling; A Transient Space.

Personnel

TuneTown

band / ensemble / orchestra

Kelly Jefferson

saxophone, tenor

Artie Roth

bass

Ernesto Cervini

drums

Album information

Title: There From Here | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Slammin Media

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Vocalese (1952 - 1961)
< Previous

US Military Service Bands: Histories...
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.