Maxwell's House by Shawn Maxwell
On JazzChicago.net’s Top Jazz Albums of 2010
“The compositions are grounded in the traditional, yet spiked with plenty of surprising shifts and interesting elements and evidence of Maxwell’s confidence and maturity... By following his own way, Maxwell has created another album of importance based on his originality and sense of purpose.” - Brad Walseth, JazzChicago.net, January 2010
“... a hard-swinging, deep in the pocket release... The maturity displayed by all four musicians on the album is both refreshing and exciting... Of note is Nelson, who is never less than stellar throughout... Maxwell’s tone and sense of time are captivating... Strong compositions, a deep sense of time feel and an emphasis on melody all come together... an accomplishment that should create pride in the performers and enjoyment in their audience.” - Matthew Warnock, All About Jazz, January 2010
“... another very engaging workout by Shawn Maxwell.” - Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz, March 2010
“He is light latte on the waltzing “Ava”, while being as thick as mocha on “Dangerous Curve” which includes some buzzing horn work. The tricky interplay between horn, piano and drums on the snappy “Shuffled” will wake you up like an iced expresso, while Nelson’s work on “Sector 7-G” foams like a cappuccino. Maxwell’s House brims with delight - good till the last drop.” - George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly, April 2010
“... an extremely rewarding modern take on the edgy, modal hard bop of the 1960s with something extra for the 21st century.” - Hrayr Attarian, Chicago Jazz Magazine, May 2010
“As a player, Maxwell’s greatest strength is his tone, a keening sound similar to those of Jackie McLean and Kenny Garrett. It can be aggressively muscular or warmly expressive, depending on the context... pianist Matt Nelson has to be singled out for his extraordinary skills as an improviser. His imaginative, unpredictable improvisations make listening to him a genuine pleasure.” - David Franklin, Cadence Magazine, July 2010
“Maxwell’s House, his Chicago Sessions debut, shows off a sprightly but strong-willed style, which grows from his puckered, slightly acerbic, and often kaleidoscopic tone. His alto timbre sits in a lineage exemplified by past giants like Jackie McLean and Eric Dolphy, and by such latter-day players as Arthur Blythe and Steve Slagle. Maxwell gets to all of them through his emulation of Kenny Garrett (one of the most admired contemporary altoists), who folds many of those influences into his own music… Throughout the disc, Maxwell’s House displays a vibrant and steadily maturing quartet. The youthful Nelson emerges here (and on the standout Chicago Sessions disc by guitarist Aaron Koppel) as one of Chicago’s most promising jazzmen, and one of the freshest pianists on the national scene.” - Neil Tesser (from the album notes)
Tracklist
| 1. | Maxwell's House | 5:55 |
| 2. | Shuffled | 7:27 |
| 3. | Five | 8:34 |
| 4. | Jathor | 6:14 |
| 5. | Ava | 7:08 |
| 6. | If Only | 5:01 |
| 7. | Welcome | 8:48 |
| 8. | Sector 7-G | 7:49 |
| 9. | Different Colors of Cool | 6:19 |
| 10. | Dangerous Curve | 5:48 |
Credits
Shawn Maxwell: alto saxophone
Matt Nelson: piano
Kevin Martinez: double bass
Brandon Dickert: drums
Recorded 9/20 and 9/27/2009 at Studiomedia Recording Company
Produced and engineered by Nick Eipers
License
All rights reserved.
As a composer, recording artist and performer, saxophonist Shawn Maxwell has endeavored to express his own unique voice. From his latest album Millstream (Jazzline, 2020) to his debut Originals (self-released, 2005), he has released nine albums of original compositions. .