Adrian Cunningham Quartet
In Motion – The Live Sessions
(with bonus DVD)
(Newmarket)

Rating: ****

All but three of these fourteen cuts are compositions by saxophonist/leader Cunningham, recorded live before an enthusiastic audience at Sydney’s Seymour Centre. Cunningham is probably best known as saxophonist with Galapagos Duck. Most tracks have a funky feel, given variety by Cunningham’s use of alto and tenor sax, as well as clarinet or flute. The style is extremely well played, swinging mainstream. Cunningham’s third CD uses almost identical sidemen as his first two, and the group’s depth of experience is evident in cohesive grooves and like-flavoured soloing, particularly from pianist Bill Risby. Tempos vary from the smokey late night ballad Gratitude, to the jagged rhythm underscoring the double speed melody line on hectic alto in 12,000 Feet. The Latino piece Caribe works well with Cunningham’s flute, but along the way the rhythm section becomes a little muddy, although drummer Gordon Rytmeister solos well. Georgia On My Mind is given a slow blues treatment, the alto climbing into near dog-whistle territory.

This review first appeared in The Weekend Australian and is republished with permission of the author.

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The cute opening to this review could have been, “Will the real Mr Cunningham please stand up?” But musicians, like actors, have a wretched time being pigeonholed, and Adrian Cunningham should be applauded for his multiple musical hats. He is equally convincing across the whole jazz spectrum and his own band – with pianist Bill Risby, bassist Dave Pudney and drummer Gordon Rytmeister – only marginally narrows the scope.

Read John Shand’s full review on the SMH website.

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Hash Varsani is the owner of The Jazz Directory, a network of sites related to jazz, travel and everything else he loves. He also runs a selection of jazz related sites including Jazz Club Jury, a jazz club and festival review site. Check out his Google+ Profile, to see what else he's up to...probably setting up another website from one of his many passions.

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