 | | Personnel: Tim Coffman: trombone; Scott Wendholdt: trumpet; Mark Colby: tenor, soprano saxophone; Mike Kocour: piano; Kelly Sill: bass; Bob Rummage: drums. | | Tracks: Yes or No, Sail Away, Step Lightly, Crossroads, My Old Flame, Summer in Central Park, Sky Dive, Lament, Caravan, Alone Together | |
Tim Coffman
"Crossroads"
“Yes Or No,” the first tune on this energetic and exciting CD, comes charging out of the gate, establishing without question the high quality of the musicianship and the articulacy of the mix. Saxophonist Mark Colby begins the tune, and is joined by the rest of the band. The opening statement returns after the solos, again charged with energy. There is no doubt that this is exciting and spirited music.
Tune number 2, “Sail Away,” begins with Tim Coffman’s warm, lyrical eight-measure statement of the melody (when trombone sounds as good as this, you want to hear more), and is joined by the rest of the sextet. This is first-rate sextet writing, making full use of the front line instruments in a small group setting. It is also gratifying to know that, after the first three tunes, you are completely drawn into the CD. You’re not going to be caught with one seemingly same tune after another on this recording.
You won’t find a better jazz player than trumpeter Scott Wendholt. You don’t often hear a jazz trumpet player using such long lyrical phrases in his improvisations. It’s more often than not only high, loud and fast. He has the technique of an Al Vizzutti and the creativity of a Greg Hopkins. Tim Coffman again shows his ease with the trombone, displaying expert technique, tone, and lyrical lines.
This is a fun group to listen to. In fact, the second time I listened to this CD, I enjoyed it even more. There is definitely further information to learn from this CD than one time allows.
Piano player Mike Kocour also demonstrates great lyrical sense in his creative efforts. They feel as well thought out as a written melody line. It’s a great pleasure to listen to his performance.
A word on the superb mixing of this CD. When you can either isolate individual musicians or enjoy the group as a whole, you know the engineer has done his job.
“Step Lightly,” a Joe Henderson tune, is proof that if you can’t catch the listeners in the first three tunes, you’re not going to get them at all. Coffman has paced the CD well. Wayne Shorter’s tune “Yes or No” is a fast-paced catchy opener, followed by “Sail Away,” a melodic, soft latin feel, and then “Step Lightly,” an enjoyable bouncy medium 16 bar blues. The listener is fully drawn into the CD with these first three tunes and should want nothing less than to continue to the end.
“Crossroads,” written by Tim Coffman, is the title tune. It moves fast throughout its short life on this CD. In fact, that is my only complaint concerning this tune. I wish the solos had been longer. I thought the musicians had too little time to really express themselves, given the speed of the tune. Double the amount of solo time would have been fine with me.
Doesn’t everyone think of Spike Jones when you see the title “My Old Flame?” Until I heard this version, that is. It’s done with the sensitivity of Bill Evans and is well worth its place on this CD.
“Summer In Central Park” and “Sky Dive” follow in an interesting and well done approach.
“Lament” was written by that greatest of jazz trombonists, J.J. Johnson. Although usually a ballad, Tim has turned it into a swing ballad, retaining the lyrical style, but with a bouncier feel. This is «offman’s nod to a great mentor, and the rhythm section keeps the background support simple, allowing him to get as rhythmically complex as he wishes, while still maintaining a legato flow. Pianist Mike Kocour has four measures after which Tim finishes the piece with a simple single note, a pleasant way to off-set the previous more complicated soloing.
Tune number nine, “Caravan,” is a fast samba. Tim solos for eight, then the sextet plays the second eight. Scott solos over the bridge while Tim plays the melody. I don’t think you’ll hear better sextet writing than this. The front line fills in the complex chords superbly. Mike Kocour has the first solo, followed by Tim’s impressive solo. Next is Mark Colby, his solo dynamic and spirited, another excellent performance. The group then recaps to finish the tune with an outstanding ending.
“Alone Together,” the final tune, is a vehicle for trombone and bass. Alone--but together (get it?). Tim demonstrates the best in improvisation techniques by soloing without keyboard support and ends this tune with a nice off the wall harmonic twist away from the norm, thus ending this fine CD.
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