Jim Snidero - Interface (2011)

Jim Snidero has long proved himself to his fellow jazz musicians, having recorded with NEA Jazz Master Toshiko Akiyoshi, along with numerous other leaders. The alto saxophonist's 16th CD as a leader features eight inventive originals, played by old hands Paul Bollenback (splitting his time between electric and nylon-string acoustic guitar) and bassist Paul Gill, plus up-and-coming drummer McClenty Hunter. "Interface" is a fast-paced post-bop vehicle with a hip urban air, with the leader's playful alto supported by Bollenback's fluid licks. "Fall Out" has a fusion flavor due to Bollenback's edgy guitar, though he works plenty of bop licks into his rockish solo. Snidero's melancholy ballad "After the Pain" finds the leader at his most expressive (he wrote it following his mother's death) with a compelling alto solo, with Bollenback adding a nice bluesy background. When the acoustic guitar is substituted, the music takes on a different character. The lush "Silhouette" is an intimate conversation between sax and guitar, with bass and drums providing the perfect backdrop for its elegant character. "Viper" has a Middle Eastern air at first as Snidero opens it with a powerful unaccompanied statement, though once the full band has joined him it changes into a brisk African mood with both Bollenback and Gill showcased extensively. "Aperitivo" is a delicious bossa nova that features intricate interwoven lines. One of the most impressive alto saxophonists of his generation, Jim Snidero's Interface ranks among his finest sessions as a leader.