New America
La Reserve, 2025
9/10
The saxophonist Nick Biello is joined by Charlie Porter, George Colligan, Alex Tremblay and Peter Kronreif for a small handful of personal and timeless jazz songs that make up this 3rd album.
The warm spirit of “Bel Canto” opens with Biello’s smooth alto sax alongside Kronreif’s frisky drumming for the rich jazz climate, and “Queen Of Jordan” follows with Colligan’s frisky keys and Tremblay’s animated bass adding much playfulness.
Halfway through, the speedy “Slightly Perilous” uses the dynamic rhythm section, Biello’s lively sax and Porter’s trumpet acrobatics for the album’s best, while “Before The Flood” is a more bare setting that allows Biello’s talents to shine amid the 11+ minutes that builds into a layered delivery. The title track exits, and brings a breezy quality, where all the players contribute their talents in spades to the collaborative finish.
An effort that swings, embraces improvisation and cinematic bouts, Biello and company make us wish there were much more than 6 songs present.
Travels well with: Tim Jago- Time Shift; Jackson Potter- Small Things