Favorites Jazz Quintet - The Sportsman
Jazz, Instrumental
Maryland, U.S.
Overall Impression: The Baltimore-based Favorites Jazz Quintet serve up hard-swinging bebop on the release of their original tune, "The Sportsman." This track comes hot right out of the gate by stating a rolicking and boisterous theme, punctuated by heavy accents from a top shelf rhythm section. Trumpeter and band leader John Lamkin II takes the first solo, displaying excellent tone and range as he explores the harmonic possibilities and tests the structural boundaries of the composition. A fiery tenor sax solo follows with soulful and lively runs that mange to capture the feel of an intimate performance in a small, dimly-lit club. Next up is an acrobatic pianosection that leads into a mellow upright bass feature before returning to the head, then finally reaching a blazing conclusion at around the six-minute mark. Straight-ahead jazz aficionados, particularly bop fans, need to check out John Lamkin II & the Favorites Jazz Quintet's "The Sportsman", available now on all steaming services as the premier track on their 2024 album titled Movin'.
Strongest Point(s): Outstanding production and mix, fantastic recording with excellent clarity. Awesome energy straight from the top, amazing head that immediately reminded me of the Jazz Messengers' lively and rambunctious sound. Terrific bass walks and piano vamps throughout. Love those bombs the drummer drops. Incredible individual solo sections that all do a great job of complimenting and contrasting each other, as well as blending seamlessly from one to the next. Strong finish, nice hang on the final chord. Overall this is a tremendous track that was a brilliant choice to lead off the album. Infectious energy, expert musicianship, and simply a a catchy composition that jazz enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy. Stellar work on this one, by all involved!
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of Jazz, Bebop, Hard Bop, Post-Bop.
Artist target suggestions: Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Charle Mingus, Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins, Roy Hargrove, Thelonious Monk, Jackie McLean, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Lee Morgan, Horace Silver, Clifford Brown, Cannonball Adderly, Elvin Jones
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About the Reviewer:
Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent among the next generation of musical explorers.