SHAWN MAXWELL

J TOWN SUITE

Cora Street Records

Shawn Maxwell, alto & soprano saxophone/flute/composer; Michael Barton, electric bass; Collin Clauson, Fender Rhodes/Wurlitzer; Greg Eassig, drums/percussion.

Maxwell’s first original tune marches off the compact disc with the drums and bass driving the groove beneath Maxwell’s soprano saxophone solo.  His album is appropriately named  for his hometown of Joliet, Illinois, located thirty-five miles Southwest of Chicago. This first song is a throw-back to the days he spent as a teen at Central High School, playing in the school band.  In fact, the title of each song is a reflection of his life and times. “Fries or Rings in the Back” recalls his job as a teenager in a fast-food local restaurant. I was surprised at the slow tempo and poignant melody.  I thought it would have been a tune that reflected the energy of youth and the frenzy of working in a restaurant, taking orders, serving food, and cooking up fries and burgers.  Instead, it’s a ballad piece that seems pensive and introspective.  Electronics run through the arrangement with Collin Clauson moving from acoustic to electric piano with lots of pedal, complete with overtones. On “Herald’s News” Shawn Maxwell recalls his second job. This tune is more straight-ahead jazz, but still incorporates repetition in his arrangements.  His musical ideas seem to become loops, popularly used in the Millennial generation.  A tune called “Jerry” was written in tribute to his band director at Juliet Junior College.  I found his creative ideas to sometimes get lost in the repetitive phrasing.  His tone on alto saxophone is smooth and fluid. I enjoyed his improvisations during the “Jerry” tune, but the root of the song just kept repeating over and over again beneath the artist’s freedom excursion and I wanted the rhythm section to be more creative.

Maxwell plays flute on “Tap, Keg & Tavern” with Greg Eassig’s warm, busy drums as the only accompaniment.  “Ghost Mall on Jefferson” is a bluesy tune that once again spotlights Maxwell on his alto saxophone with Eassig playing mallets on his trap drums.  You get to appreciate Shawn Maxwell’s obvious mastery of his sax instrument.

Reedman, Shawn Maxwell has become an important part of the Chicago jazz scene.  This is his twelfth album release as a leader.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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