Album Reviews - John Wojciechowski
Album Reviews - John Wojciechowski
Album Reviews - John Wojciechowski
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“LEXICON” <strong>Reviews</strong>:<br />
Built entirely on <strong>Wojciechowski</strong>'s original compositions,<br />
the recording bristles with a spirit of invention and<br />
harmonic daring, as well as Wojo's technical prowess<br />
and deeply nuanced tone. From the insinuating melody<br />
line of the title cut to the gorgeous lyricism of "Voice in<br />
the Wilderness," from the urgency of "Pentatonic Tune"<br />
to the experimental leanings of "Push," this music<br />
rewards repeated hearings.<br />
The contributions of such formidable players as pianist<br />
Ron Perrillo, drummer Dana Hall, bassist Dennis Carroll<br />
and guitarist Dave Miller enrich the texture of this music<br />
and attest to the caliber of company Wojo keeps. In all, a powerhouse debut.<br />
- Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune (9/15/09)<br />
Detroit sax man that has played with everyone and now lives in Chicago with a day job<br />
in high school music (good luck with that these days), the cat with the name you can’t<br />
pronounce makes up for it by giving you a sound you won’t forget. With a Motown<br />
flavor lurking in the grooves, he’s gone from jazz to classical with several stops in<br />
between and he seems to always know how to hit the right notes. This is a delightfully<br />
tasty workout that those that like to be in the know first should check out now.<br />
-Chris Spector, Midwest Record Review (10/3/09)<br />
Local jazz fans in the know tout tenor saxophonist <strong>John</strong> <strong>Wojciechowski</strong> as perhaps the<br />
most underrated musician in the area. Having caught him live briefly in action, as well<br />
as on rare recordings (see our review of the Jeff Campbell Trio - "A Declaration of<br />
Optimism" here), I can attest to the tremendous skills of the still young artist - a veteran<br />
of several top big bands and 1996 finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk<br />
International Jazz Competition. That he is not more well known and more thoroughly<br />
recorded is a bit of a mystery to me, and can only conclude that his duties playing in the<br />
Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Rob Parton Big Band, the Chicago Yestet and Dana Hall's<br />
SPRING, and also as a high school educator in west suburban St. Charles have taken<br />
up much of his time and contributed to his flying under the radar. Lexicon is Wojo's first<br />
album as leader and features top Chicago musicians like keyboardist Ron Perillo,<br />
guitarist Dave Miller and a rhythm section of Dennis Carroll on bass and Dana Hall on<br />
drums. With such great players as these you can imagine nothing can go wrong - and<br />
indeed it is a solid record (recorded in 2006 and 2008) with great playing by all involved.<br />
The combustible Hall and Carroll make a truly dynamic duo, while Perillo contributes his<br />
usual stellar work on acoustic and electric pianos. Miller is rapidly becoming a favorite of
mine and his African-flavored exchanges with the bandleader on "Lion and the Lamb"<br />
are a highlight. Although <strong>Wojciechowski</strong> is generous with giving ample spotlight time to<br />
his compatriots, he himself is the star here and even treats us to some brilliant work on<br />
soprano sax . His assured technique hints at Coltrane, but with a more measured,<br />
melodic and less fevered approach, although he generates enough heat on "Push" and<br />
his "Pentatonic Tune" solo to singe the edge of the CD (the rest of the band is also on<br />
fire on the latter - one of the best burners I have heard in some time). There is so much<br />
to hear in this wonderfully layered recording - including strong and creative<br />
compositions and great individual and ensemble playing - that I am confident listeners<br />
will enjoy playing it often, while absorbing the subtleties for some time to come.<br />
www.jwojojazzl.com<br />
Brad Walseth - www.jazzchicago.net<br />
<strong>John</strong> <strong>Wojciechowski</strong> - LEXICON: <strong>John</strong>'s tenor and soprano sax works are (quite<br />
simply) astounding! His tone makes it that way - full-bodied and rich all the way from<br />
opening note to closing bar. Unfortunately, this one wasn't up on AMAZON (yet?), so I<br />
couldn't link the samples right in for you, but you can hear 4 or 5 of them on <strong>John</strong>'s<br />
listening page (whoops, I did find some downloadable/playable samples at EMUSIC -<br />
our hats are off to those folks for making the links available, even tho' it does appear to<br />
be that abominable FLASH player). He's joined by Dave Miller on guitar, Ron Perillo on<br />
piano/Rhodes, Dennis Carroll on bass and Dana Hall on drums/cymbals; you may not<br />
realize it until you've listened to him, but he's been on the jazz scene with lots of<br />
players. Nine original tunes keep the energy going at full-bore, especially on<br />
compositions like "Jazz Folk Song", my absolute favorite on the album... at about 2:50,<br />
Perillo's excellent piano chops are joined by a scorching sax lead that you won't soon<br />
forget, & Carroll's bass introduction provides a driving force that propels it at rocket<br />
speed! There are all kinds of player comparisons I could make (names like Getz,<br />
Adderley & such come to mind), but what I so much enjoy about his energy is that you<br />
can tell everything he plays is straight from the heart... songs like "Jazz Folk Song" are<br />
more expressive of the ancient language that music truly is than any I've heard in years!<br />
If it's rousing drums and energy that spans the universe you crave, you'll fall in love with<br />
"Pentatonic Tune"... this one just soars! If you're looking for an album that will become<br />
an "instant jazz classic" - this is it!!! I rate it MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, as well<br />
as award it the "PICK" of this issue for "best saxophone-based jazz quintet"!<br />
"EQ" (energy quotient) rating is 4.96!<br />
Dick Metcalf, aka Rotcod Zzaj - Improvijazzation Nation http://zzaj.freehostia.com/
My first thought when I saw the lineup on <strong>John</strong> <strong>Wojciechowski</strong>’s disc, Lexicon, was,<br />
“Wow, this’ll be awesome!” To tell the truth, these days, even on CDs by real New York<br />
heavyweights, it’s fairly rare that you’ll see a pool of talent this deep on one disc. So, the<br />
question then moves from can these cats play? to can these cats play well together?<br />
The answer is a resounding yes. Matching a fantastic and fresh saxophonist with one of<br />
Chicago’s hottest up-and-coming jazz guitarists and then having them play with a rhythm<br />
section so rock-solid that it’s scary is one heck of a way to ensure a fantastic first CD under<br />
one’s name. Suffice it to say, Lexicon does not disappoint.<br />
Things start off fairly quietly with “Title.” While many discs start off with a bang, Lexicon<br />
eases you into its charms with a beautiful melody. The song starts off nicely enough, and Dave<br />
Miller takes a gorgeous solo to get things moving. But when <strong>Wojciechowski</strong> takes the reins, he<br />
kicks the tune up a whole bunch of notches, taking a pretty tune and turning it into the realm that<br />
recalls some of Wayne Shorter’s heavier moments from his Blue Note albums in the mid sixties.<br />
What really makes that solo stand out, though, is what Ron Perrillo does next. Most<br />
players with Perrillo’s skill would have gone for the jugular after <strong>Wojciechowski</strong>’s solo. Perrillo<br />
instead pulls back with a subdued and relatively simple solo that is shocking in its sparseness<br />
and beauty.<br />
“Jazz Folk Song” is the first song on the disc where Perrillo cuts loose, and when he<br />
does, oh my word, does he make it count. Perrillo is one of my favorite pianists in Chicago with<br />
good reason. He simply sounds like he was playing like a prize fighter, first sizing up his<br />
opponent, and then as he realizes that he can beat his man, he just pummels with laser like<br />
accuracy until he’s done. Perrillo is criminally under-recorded and I hope that someone that’s<br />
reading this can remedy the situation soon.<br />
“Lion and the Lamb” is interesting, not only for <strong>Wojciechowski</strong>’s fantastic playing, but<br />
also because it’s one of the first times that I’ve heard Dave Miller really swing on a CD. On his<br />
own, with his band Algernon or with Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls, the intentions were different and<br />
he played his tail off. Here, as a sideman in an ensemble that is clearly a much more straightahead<br />
affair, he fits in beautifully. “Pentatonic Tune” is the most straightforward song on the CD,<br />
and <strong>Wojciechowski</strong>, Miller and Perrillo all contribute fantastic solos to an excellent tune.<br />
The centerpiece of the disc, however, is “Push.” Much of Lexicon does sound like it was<br />
composed of tunes meant to be soloed over. Which, in the case of these soloists, is not at all a<br />
bad thing! However, “Push” seems like a song that was clearly thought through from beginning<br />
to end. It’s hardly a simple collection of solos. Everyone (but Dennis Carroll) gets to show off<br />
here, with Perrillo on Rhodes, and Miller clearly reveling in the sounds he’s getting with help of<br />
his pedals and his amp. Over all of the revelry, the usual suspects here deliver excellent solos,<br />
and when Dana Hall gets his piece, he delivers a fantastic taste of why he’s so beloved in<br />
Chicago.<br />
Since Lexicon is only the first disc that <strong>John</strong> <strong>Wojciechowski</strong> has put out to date, I think it<br />
goes without saying that his is a career to watch. His compositions are fantastic, his playing is<br />
out of sight and his choice in sidemen is outstanding as well. Lexicon shows a player<br />
comfortable in numerous settings, from pretty ballads to up-tempo swingers, and from hypnotic<br />
vamps to the forefront of thoroughly electric jazz. I can’t wait to hear more of Mr. <strong>Wojciechowski</strong><br />
throughout 2010 and beyond.<br />
––Paul Abella, Chicago Jazz Magazine