Q'd Up - Never Better (2018)

Q’d Up, the popular faculty jazz quintet from Brigham Young University, presents their fifth album on Tantara Records. Q’d Up comprises five restless, creative, and always-searching instrumentalists, arrangers, and composers. The group is constantly learning new material from the pen of band members Jay Lawrence, Steve Lindeman, and Ron Saltmarsh, and devising new arrangements of various jazz standards. The group writes: “This record is, indeed, Never Better- largely because of the appearance of several amazing musicians, good friends, and colleagues, including Wycliffe Gordon on Trombone, Corey Christiansen on guitar, Matt Larson on electric bass, Monte Belknap on violin, and Kurt Reeder on a Hammond A-11 organ. Reflecting on the collaborative nature of our group, each member has contributed something to each arrangement and liner notes, so sit back and enjoy the musical journey.