Cellar Records, out of Vancouver, BC, keeps churning out these ultra-fine performances by young artists who have fully digested the jazz tradition. And now they’re being given the chance to display their considerable chops. Another such group is the Sean Frye Quartet. All are new names to me but all have played right down the middle of the jazz boulevard. All compositions except one are composed by the pianist and leader, Sean Frye. His muse seems to be to write catchy, nicely swinging melodies that sound as though they may have come from the golden era of jazz, the 1940’s or ‘50’s. The one exception I alluded to is Billy Strayhorn’s masterpiece, “Lush Life”. It’s a stirring solo for Frey who handles it with appropriate intensity and respect. A special tip of the jazz cap to Sam Kirmayer whose warm sound adds a certain kind of perfection to the session. The younger generation is making its mark, that’s for sure. And you can hear it in every note from the Sean Frye Quartet.
Cellar; probably 2021; appx. 50 min.
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