I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Brand New State, from Alex McLaughlin, and it's rich and full of texture. Opening with Desert Chapel, Alex McLaughlin on upright bass, sets the quiet framework of the track joined by Jeremy Siskind on piano fleshing out the melody. With Tina Raymond adding crisp, articulate snare and cymbal work, Trumpet man Jeremy Pelt creates a sharp contrast with brilliant phrasing and McLaughlin steps back up with a solid bass solo. Siskind adds his own exploration of the melody making for a super opener. Signals is quite melodic with Pelt laying out the format, framed. Siskind and Pelt each create dynamic solos making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Lily has a bluesy feel with the sense of longing in lead lines by Pelt on trumpet and lush reinforcement by Siskind on piano. McLaughlin works hand in hand with Siskind on his bass solo with tight snare/cymbal work by Raymond. Bop track, El Polvo really moves with Siskind, McLaughlin and Raymond expanding it nicely. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Elevation with an avalanche of excellent drumming by Raymond and building tension by Siskind on piano. Pelt breaks the tension with a highly melodic solo, and mixing it up with Siskind rewinds the tension. Breaking into his own solo, Siskind develops a solid groove, anchored by Raymond and McLaughlin, rejoined by Pelt who leads the way to an quiet conclusion. Very nice.
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