Search - Moss, Williams Quintet :: Steamers

Who's heard of these guys?

John C. Graham | toronto, ontario Canada | 11/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Every once in a while a mainstream outing will come along and just knock your socks right off. "Steamers" is certainly in this category. The music is played with a fine intensity and almost boils over in places. The musicians are superb.



Danny Moss is a fine tenor player in the Coleman Hawkins tradition. He's got that big burly sound and he's not afraid of taking chances. It's that gutsy approach that makes this recording so appealing. Roy Williams' trombone shares that approach, providing a superb partner for Moss's melodic excursions. Pianist John Pearce is stellar throughout whether backing the horns or soloing. Len Skeat's bass and Charly Antolini's drums hold everything together with beautiful walking lines and timely percussive accents. It's an excellent group performance.



Studio sound quality and mix is superb. You get 75 minutes of wonderfully exciting contemporary swing-and they swing hard. This is a recording to seek out and play often. It will get rid of those mainstream blues!"