St. Marseille, Dan, Quintet: Invitation

Invitation is all about fluidity. Fluidity of melody, fluidity of interaction and fluidity of performance. Together it all makes for a free flowing interpretation of a collection of jazz standards, alongside a pair of originals that provide laid back, pleasurable listening. Hence it's little surprise that one of the key elements here is the assured, classy and intricate interplay of the quintet – Dan St. Marseille on tenor sax and clarinet, Claudio Roditi on trumpet and flugelhorn, Bill Cunliffe on piano, Roger Shew on bass and Paul Kreibich on drums – both individually and as a unit, where the ease of delivery often disguises the intricacy of execution.

Impressively the sprawling "It's What You Think" and playful jaunt of "Spacious", which are both St. Marseille compositions, fit perfectly amongst the exalted company of "Anthropology" (Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie) and "All Things You Are" (Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein), or "You Stepped Out Of A Dream" (Nacio Brown/Gus Kahn) and "Invitation" (Bronislaw Kaper/Paul Francis Webr). Special guests show up in the shape of alto sax and clarinet man Gary Foster, while Chris Dawson adds a little piano, the pair to be found on the two St. Marseilles pieces and "Bertha The Dragoness". That this quintet can attract collaborators of that quality to their cause illustrates the class on display and the constantly high level of musicianship. If there's a downside, then for some it may be that the excitement loses its lustre in one or two places due to the selections often offering up a similar feel and tone. Although if this is an area of jazz you like to spend quite a lot of time, then that could also be seen as this collection's biggest boon.

Invitation is an album that does just that, suggesting you pull up a chair and lose yourself for a little while in some sweet and heartfelt sounds. It may not change the world, but it will certainly improve your evening.

Track Listing
1. You Stepped out of a Dream
2. Invitation
3. Body and Soul
4. Spacious (feat. Gary Foster & Chris Dawson)
5. All the Things You Are
6. It's What You Think (feat. Gary Foster & Chris Dawson)
7. Bertha the Dragoness (feat. Gary Foster & Chris Dawson)
8. Anthopology

Added: September 17th 2016
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Invitation at CD Baby
Hits: 1288
Language: english

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