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Mark Godfrey: Square Peg
BySupposition aside, the cover art of Godfrey's album, Square Peg, features a three van caravan, driving westbound, pointing at Toronto, where the bassist works with his much lauded Pram Trio, records with keyboardist Teri Parker and freelances prolifically. The Mark Godfrey Quintet is a "two sax front line and a rhythm section quintet." The group has crafted a modern sound, full of urgency on "Skyline" and shimmering beauty on "Black Stars," that opens with thirty seconds of what sounds like an electro Gregorian Chant, but is probably some sort of arco bass extended technique. As a whole the tune has an inside/outside dynamic, with a Miles Davis Nefertiti (Columbia, 1968) mood.
"No Gig Today" blows out a carefree dance, and "One Game Away From Winter" is melancholy and introspective. It could be about the end of baseball seasonGodfrey is rumored to be a Toronto Blue Jays fan.
Godfrey has assembled a skilled and cohesive band. Square Peg, his second recording with the quintet, has a distinctive verve and sparkle, a big full sound, instigative piano/drum work from Chris Pruden and Nick Fraser, respectively, and wonderful unison blowing interspersed with intricate interweavings from the saxophonists, Matt Woroshyl and Allison Au.
Track Listing
Black Stars; Square Peg; No Gig Today; U.S.S. Rent-A-Car; Skyline; One Game Away From Winter; Forty Minutes Or More; Driving Westbound; McDuff; Bucket List.
Personnel
Mark Godfrey
bassAllison Au
saxophone, altoMatt Woroshyl
saxophone, tenorChris Pruden
pianoNick Fraser
drumsAlbum information
Title: Square Peg | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Self Produced
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Mark Godfrey
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Dan McClenaghan
Orange Grove Publicity
Square Peg
Self Produced
Teri Parker
Miles Davis
Chris Prudon
Nick Fraser
Matt Woroshyl
Allison Au