Search - Adam Niewood :: Adam Niewood & His Rabble Rousers 1 & 2

Absolutely fantastic modern jazz recording

Andrew I. Schamess | 11/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I could probably live forever on the great jazz of the 40's 50's and 60's, but I set out recently to discover out what newer, younger performers are up to. This recording was one of my best finds. Yes, jazz lives. Niewood blows up a storm. You can hear echoes of all the giants, from Dexter Gordon to Dewey Redman; but Niewood is a mature and highly accomplished saxophonist with his own very distinct voice. His playing is energetic, emotional, intense and precise. He has an extremely tight ensemble. You can hear that the band members love playing together, and play off each other with delight and imagination.



This is definitely post-bop, with dense harmonic constructions, challenging tonal patterns and so on. But what makes it fun to listen to is that Niewood also brings a very modern sensibility. Obviously he's listened to more than jazz - you can hear bits of rock, fusion, trip-hop, etc. - and his numbers communicate with the directness of the best pop songs despite their complexity. I don't think he would a stretch for fans of Phish or the Chemical Brothers.



The first disc consists of Niewood's compositions, and the second (my favorite by a nose) is mostly group improvisations. Both are dynamite. I've listened to them a dozen times now, and I find new things each time. As the title of the disc says, Niewood and his Rabble Rousers take you on a trip.



If you like jazz or improvised music, and if you want a recording you can both groove to and sink your teeth into musically, you will love this."