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ANTON SCHWARTZ What's more impressive: the studiously precise yet relaxed playing of this young Bay Area tenor saxophonist or the graceful retro-classic feel of his compositions and arrangements? This debut disc consists of eight new songs by Schwartz (as well as numbers by Sonny Rollins and Rodgers and Hart) that evince a formidable grasp of everything from easygoing cocktail swing ("Poketown") and sinuously seductive Brazilian-tinged jazz ("Denouement") to the gently frothing, congo-laden Afro-Cuban "Tidepool." Schwartz has learned his lessons well from straight-ahead players such as John Coltrane, Stanley Turrentine and Joshua Redman, but there's no tint of academic formalism here. Schwartz communicates notes and ideas with thoughtful, unflappable insistence. Like his piano man, Paul Nagel, Schwartz communicates notes and ideas with thoughtful, unflappable insistence. The supple rhythm section of John Shifflett (bass) and Jason Lewis (drums) fits the group like a comfortable pair of loafers, and Josh Jones' conga playing weaves intricate, unobtrusive textures. More, please -- Reed Johnson |