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Reviews: The New Sound Quartet: Summer Knows

Reviews: 2

Review by miguelito54 March 4, 2007 (4 of 4 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
Anyone mourning the fact that the famous Modern Jazz Quartet no longer exists may turn to the New Sound Quartet. They are a little more modern of course, but the combination of careful, clever arrangements and jazz improvisation on the highest level finds an equally perfect outlet in this new group. Pianist Geoffrey Keezer has had excellent rapport with vibraphonists from the start of his career, first with Steve Nelson, and now with Joe Locke (who, by the way, has another band paying tribute to the MJQ's Milt Jackson). Bassist Ed Howard and drummer Terreon Gully round out the Quartet, which has all modern jazz stylistics at their command. All are masters of their instruments, the program shows great variety and at the same time presents an identifiable group sound. Joe Locke coaxes one of the most beautiful sounds out a vibraphone - the recording captures it in all its glowing warmth. Their approach to standards is quite imaginative - they play the sometimes bland "Emily" as a duo turning it into a lively jazz waltz; "All The Things You Are" was arranged by Keezer, who sat on the idea of this slow motion treatment for ten years - don't look at the title list and you are in for a big surprise!
The recording is direct with little room ambience, but this only serves the resonance of the vibraphone - Locke uses the vibrato and sustain controls very consciously and you can hear every nuance of this. My only complaint is Gully's bass drum sound, which is rather dry with almost no tonal definition, which doesn't quite fit the overall warm group sound; but he sounds like this on any recording or live - I heard him (and Keezer) live with the Christian McBride Band and he sounded just like this: It's obviously the way he wants it. But this is only a small distraction in an otherwise excellent disc. Highly recommended.

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Review by Oliver_twist March 2, 2015
Performance:   Sonics:
New Sound Quartet is a discovery for m, I had never heard it. I must say I was very excited about this because I am a fan of the Modern Jazz Quartet, and 88 issues the best recorded albums I have ever heard.
I have to say it meets my expectations and even more. As explained by previous reviewer it is an excellent quartet with piano/drums/bass and vibes. Joe Locke on the vibes delivers one of the nicest perfs I have ever heard. It is excellent overall and the tunes will suit everybody's taste I suspect. Modern without being free jazz, excellent.
The sound is stereo only, but gives a better feeling of instrument placing and texture of sound than most mc mixes. I would probably rate it as one of the best stereo mixes, period.

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