Between Dreaming And Joy
Ear Up, 2022
9/10
Listen to Between Dreaming And Joy
The esteemed saxophonist and composer Jeff Coffin aligns himself with plenty of first rate players across these very worldly, jazz influenced tracks that are as powerful as they are eclectic.
“Vinnie The Crow” opens the listen with Jordan Preston’s playful drumming and Richard Aspinwall’s spirited guitar work as Coffin handles flute, bass clarinet, tenor sax and electro-sax on the lively and rhythmic display, and “Ruthie” follows with Jonathan Wires showcasing his skilled bass acrobatics amid Coffin’s dreamy flute in the precisely textured climate.
At the halfway point, the title track spotlights Buddy Strong’s inimitable B3 organ alongside Marcus King’s proficient slide guitar and Jennifer Hartswick’s subtle vocals, while “Spinning Plates”, the best track, benefits from Coffin’s many talents as he handles flute, bass flute, C whistle, soprano sax, bass clarinet, shakers and percussion in the one man band performance.
Close to the end, Sarah Ariche’s wordless vocals add much allure to the soothing “When Birds Sing”, and “Bird & Magic” exits the listen with Chris Wood’s upright bass and clapstick and Nigel Hall’s fender rhodes and B3 organ helping cultivate a very cultured, festive finish.
An extremely meticulous affair and Coffin’s 21st as leader, there’s 8 bassists, 6 drummers, 5 guitar players, 4 keyboardists, and other instruments from all over the globe that help make this a truly unique and absorbing listen that you won’t soon forget.