Play any three-minute segment from this CD by tenor-saxophonist
Rick Margitza and one would swear that this was a
Wayne Shorter record from the mid-1970's. Only the superior recording quality and technology would betray the fact that these performances are of more recent vintage. Even though the original songs do not sound familiar, there is nothing on this moody date that stamps it as
Rick Margitza's. The young saxophonist tries his best, often overdubbing his tenor and soprano, varying moods in his compositions and sometimes utilizing the voices of
Phil Perry and
Ed Calle as part of the ensemble, but in general the music is overly dry and
Margitza's tones are a near duplicate of
Shorter's, especially on tenor. Despite some good playing (especially from guitarist
Steve Masakowski and pianist
Joey Calderazzo), this was a premature effort from the young saxophonist who was not quite ready to be leading his own record session. ~ Scott Yanow