53 STATIONS
THE HILLTOP
SESSIONS
DREAMBOX MEDIA DMJ-
1138
LACY/ FOLLOW ME/ 53
STATIONS/ SWEET 16/ BELLS/
PAGE 3/ LATER/ BLACK TIDE/
DEPARTURE
54:42
Jason Shapiro, ts, ss; Bob
Meashey, tpt, flgh; Dylan
Taylor, b; Skip Rohrich, d.
February 1, 2007; June 9,
2007; June 12, 2007.
53 Stations is a piano-less quartet of musicians
from South Jersey, Southeastern Pennsylvania,
and Northern Delaware. The group is firmly rooted
in tradition and polished musicianship. Each
member of the quartet, besides being a seasoned
veteran of their instrument, is a respected educator
in their own right. The Hilltop Sessions is a
collection of compositions by Shapiro, Taylor, and
Rohrich. The compositions take their influence
from jazz standards, Broadway tunes, classic R&B,
and mainstream jazz. The highlighting features of
this album are the band’s cohesive sound, precise
articulation of phrases, and clear identity. The
music is adventurous, but never goes so far out to
sea that it alienates the listener. In fact, the music
has equal suitability to venues such as cocktail parties,
weddings/parties, jazz clubs, and festivals. The
album begins with Rohrich’s ode to saxophonist/
composer Steve Lacy, which features a swinging
Lacy-esque melody. The band also displays their
versatility with dynamically sensitive ballads like
“Sweet 16” and Latin-influenced compositions
like “Departure.” The album benefits from a clear
recording quality that allows the listener to hear
each individual voice and their contribution. The
music is effortlessly digestible but remains edgy
enough to keep the jazz aficionado’s attention. In
fact, the language of each player suggests a wealth
of understanding of the different periods this
music’s rich history.
Dustin Mallory
(CD available at www.dreamboxmedia.com)