Catalyst
La Reserve, 2023
8/10
The Grammy Winner, bandleader, composer, arranger, and pianist Steven Feifke never disappoints, and here he brings along so much talent for a big band effort that touches on all the hallmarks of jazz that we could never tire of.
“The Promised Land” opens the listen up with plenty of bright horn interaction amid the swift keys and agile drumming, and “It Could Happen To You” follows with a calmer pace of warm grooves that benefits much from Benny Benack III’s fluid vocals.
At the halfway point, “Catalyst” showcases John Lake’s animated trumpet and Andrew Gould’s reed magic with both cautious and adventurous ideas, while “Cover The Waterfront” emits Martina DaSilva’s gorgeous pipes alongside Alex Wintz’s warm guitar and Bryan Carter’s skilled drumming for the powerful album highlight.
Near to the end, “Patience’s Promise” welcomes Dan Chmielinski’s bass acrobatics and a stirring solo from Feifke for the poetic demeanor, and “Kingpin” exits with a dynamic chemistry between his core group.
Amazingly, this is Feifke’s 6th album in 2 years, and he’s as impressive as he is prolific, where both the originals and classics are very meticulous performed.
Travels well with: Doxas Brothers- The Circle; William Sternoff- Aim To Stay