Jacques Schwarz-Bart displays a muscular tenor sax style, solidly within the post-
Coltrane idiom of players such as
Charles Lloyd and
David Leibman. Much heat and light is also generated by pianist
James Hurt. Bassist Johannes Wiedenmuller and drummer
Ari Hoenig are the core rhythm section players, although they're replaced by
Masa Kamaguchi and
Jimmy Weinstein, respectively, on "The Price to Pay" and "Lament." Both of these moody trio numbers were recorded in
Weinstein's living room, and as a result have an especially loose, live feel -- the sort that
Sonny Rollins once conjured at the Village Vanguard in the late '50s. A third bassist, Francois Moutin, comes on board for an intimate duo treatment of "Blue in Green." Unusual Latin reinventions of "Invitation" (in 6/4) and
Coltrane's "Impressions" (in 10/8) illustrate
Schwarz-Bart's acute interpretive ability. The tenorman's original compositions are rewarding, if a bit derivative of a very specific post-
Coltrane sound. With time,
Schwarz-Bart, aided by superb players such as these, will likely grow into a more original voice. ~ David R. Adler