| All the world loves a ballad. Alternating between flute, tenor and soprano saxophone, Maurice Gainen explores widely different aspects of jazz, from Latin Jazz, smooth jazz, hip-hop, Indian and East Indian influences to John Coltrane, gospel and the mainstream. This woodwind artist has a keen desire to live (musically) in the best of all worlds. The cover art includes clear references to Europe, India, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. To assist him on this ambitious mission, he's enlisted a large cast of artists who appear with him in small ensembles. This wide-ranging, multi-cultural cast includes bassist Eric Von Essen, conguero Emiliano Almeida, koto artist Yutaka, bandoneon artist Coco Trivisonno, and drummers Kendall Kay & Gregg Bissonette. The Tango that he infuses on two takes of "Mango" grabs you by the shirt and tells you to get up out of your chair and dance. Gainen pushes hard with his personal appeal. "Keita", a tribute to Malian music master Salif Keita offers pleasant garden dreams, while Eldad Tarmu's "In The Air" waifs exotic with the luscious vocal artistry of singer June Angela. Gainen finds many compatable allies in his search for world peace. He's painted a beautiful collage of sounds from all over the world, and he's tempered those sounds with jazz. While much of the session runs smooth, Gainen's tribute to John Coltrane, "No Trane, No Gain", serves as a powerful wake-up call. Along with pianist Jamieson Trotter, bassist Tom Lerner, and drummer Sonship Theus, the saxophonist proves he can live in the best of all worlds. - Jim Santella |
