9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb Trumpet Quartet Set, November 19, 2005
This review is from: Can You Dig Being Dug? (Audio CD)
Some of the very best jazz is released on small labels run by people who are in love with the music and simply want to share it with a wider audience. Such is the case with Carl Saunders "Can You Dig Being Dug?" CD, produced by trumpet fan Mike Kaiser on the Itsus jazz label.
One hopes that this CD (recorded live in 2003) finds a wide audience, for it is superb jazz in the boppish vein. Leader Carl Saunders is beyond question one of the top trumpet players in jazz today. Saunders plays lead with the magnificent Bill Holman Band, and is a featured soloist with Mike Vax's Kenton Alumni Orchestra. Recently he recorded two fine CD's for JazzEd Media with Phil Urso and Phil Woods. Saunders has also recorded his own excellent big band CD entitled "BeBop Big Band" on Seabreeze (also produced by Kaiser).
On the present CD Saunders is front and center as he leads a finely tuned group through 10 tunes comprising 77 minutes of excellent jazz. Saunders is right at home on every tune, spinning long, lyrical lines out of his horn with deceptive ease. His improvisational approach is highly melodic and his solos are full of pleasant surprises. His tone is also very attractive. The backing trio comprising Christian Jacob on piano, Dave Stone on bass, and Santo Savino on drums is tight, swinging, and responsive at every turn. In fact, Jacob nearly equals Saunders with his flowing and exciting improvisations.
The program is exceptionally well-balanced with an appealing mixture of standards and Saunders' originals, including burners, sambas, ballads, and a couple of blues which add meat to the program. Among the highlights are the opening "There Will Never Be Another You" which sets the swinging note for the set; Saunders' "Calming Notion" which affects the listener in the way the title suggests; the spiky "Midi-Evil Blues"; the sprightly "One Note Samba"; and Carl's lovely ballad "What Can I Say?"
This is a delightful, uplifting, and highly recommended CD. It is certainly one of the best jazz releases of 2005. Once you've heard it, you'll be wanting to give it another spin immediately. (And if you don't already have it, strongly consider ordering the aforementioned "Bebop Big Band CD" along with this one).
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