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Shawn Maxwell's New Tomorrow: Music in My Mind
ByWith albums titled Originals (Self Produced, 2006) and Originals II (Self Produced, 2008) opening up his recorded resume, it's no stretch to say that Maxwell's focus is zeroed in on composition. His writing is alwaysbut even more so herehighly original and compellingly listenable. His music can be trippy (to use what might seem an outdated term; but Neil Tessler used it in the liner notes, and it seems to fit, especially on the opener, "Our Princess Is In Anther Castle"); and it can be majestic ("Herding Happiness); and it can surely groove ("He Gone"). It adds up to a stylistic mix of ingredients with a bigger, badder sum than you might expect.
The personnel employed are a mix, too: three different trumpeters contributing on different tunes; two different bassists, mixing acoustic and electric, and slip in the vibraphone and an extra percussionist, and Maxwell adds flute and clarinet, also. All of which could be a recipe for a mess, but Maxwell's focus of vision prevents that.
Vocalist Dee Alexander adds wordless vocals on three tunes. It's an inspired addition to the sound, the human voice taking the part of an extra horn on "Our Princess Is In Another Castle," with its confoundingly entrancing mood and tempo shifts, beginning brightly, with a sunny urgency, then switching to a dark, ominous, abstract, prowling vibe that moves back into a hard-driving post bop mode.
Maxwell proves himselfonce again, and even more so with Music In My Minda highly original songsmith who boasts the ability to bring together a group of top rate musicians to craft a distinctively modern jazz sound, start to finish.
Track Listing
Our Princess is in Another Castle; Music In My Mind; Untitled Tune #1; Maxwell's House; Herding Happiness; He Gone; King Bill; Another Monday; Glamasue; Snow Snow.
Personnel
Shawn Maxwell
saxophone, altoShawn Maxwell:- alto saxophone/clarinet/flute; Dee Alexander: voice (1,2,4); Victor Garcia: trumpet/flugelhorn (2,8); Chad McCullough: trumpet/flugelhorn (1,3-5,9); Corey Wilkes: trumpet (6,10); Matt Nelson: piano/Rhodes; Patrick Mulcahy: electric bass (6,10); Junius Paul: electric acoustic bass (1,2,4,5,7,8);Tim Seisser: electric bass (3,9); Phil Beale: drums; Stephen Lynerd: vibraphone (5); Kalyan Pathak: percussion (7).
Album information
Title: Music in My Mind | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: OA2 Records
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About Shawn Maxwell
Instrument: Saxophone, alto
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