Adam Larson is a young American saxophonist residing in New York City. I became familiar with Larson having reviewed his third disc Selective Amnesia released in 2015. His latest effort is titled Second City. On the new disc the lineup is completely different as Larson has dipped into the best the Midwest has to offer in the form of pianist Rob Clearfield. Rounding out the quartet are Clark Sommers (bass) and New York drummer Jimmy Macbride. The album was recorded at Electrical Audio in Chicago.
Really, the first thing you need to know is how wonderful a player Larson is. His tone, timing and chops are impeccable and the rest of the band are up for the challenge. The disc begins with "Who Even Is That?" with Larson immediately making his presence felt with some searing sax work. Rhodes is used as a nice accent before becoming more involved and Macbride lays down some nice grooves. On "Out The Window" all the musicians shine including a nice bass solo from Sommers. "First Step" is more upbeat and playful as Macbride and Larson lay down some wonderful chops. The band slow things down with "Sleep Now", a pretty ballad demonstrating the band's delicate finesse. The most surprising track has to be the jazzed up arrangement of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" where the original melody is barely discernible amidst the band's jazzified sound.
Adam Larson is quickly becoming a name to be reckoned with in contemporary jazz circles as Second City is a fine example of quartet jazz. Highly recommended.
Track Listing:
1. Who Even Is That? (5:20)
2. Out The Window (6:12)
3. First Step (7:55)
4. Smells Like Teen Spirit (7:09)
5. Sleep Now (5:56)
6. Perpetuity (6:38)
7. Uphill Climb (6:10)
8. Breakout (3:42)
For information regarding where to send CD promos and advertising, please see our FAQ page.
If you have questions or comments, please Contact Us.
Please see our Policies Page for Site Usage, Privacy, and Copyright Policies.
Adam Larson is a young American saxophonist residing in New York City. I became familiar with Larson having reviewed his third disc Selective Amnesia released in 2015. His latest effort is titled Second City. On the new disc the lineup is completely different as Larson has dipped into the best the Midwest has to offer in the form of pianist Rob Clearfield. Rounding out the quartet are Clark Sommers (bass) and New York drummer Jimmy Macbride. The album was recorded at Electrical Audio in Chicago.
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
