Anthem reviewed in Downbeat Magazine:
Anthem reviewed for Dutch Progressive Rock Page:
The East West Quintet formed in 2003 and Anthem is the follow up to their 2009 release, Vast. Anthem is a smartly produced and arranged work where every track has something new and interesting to say. There are phrases in the melodic lines and arrangements that call to mind other artists, such as Miles Davis, (hey, they have a trumpet player) or Wayne Shorter (hey, they have a sax player) or the dynamism of Pastorius-era Weather Report and so on, but this band are really, on the evidence of this release, one of a kind.
But don't let the jazz elements that I have mentioned so far put you off listening to this recording. There is so much more going on. The opener, Draft, begins with Phillip Glass like ominous piano chords that anchors the piece before the band comes in to mutate the theme in a very prog way. They throw in distorted electric guitar with light syncopated drumming. It has a brilliantly controlled dynamism.
Interstellar is an introspective ballad with a tune to die for. It builds from an electric piano and bass opening to a magnificent, emotionally charged trumpet solo that takes it out of this world. Interstellar is shaping up to be my favourite track released in 2015. It is exquisite.
Then there is the prog-blues of Collider that uses chiming acoustic guitar and electric piano to evoke a warm autumn evening in the song's first half, before sunny horn phrases give it body and the sax has a solo of quiet beauty.
The East West Quintet push the innovations further with Action Figure. A heavy rock riff spread across distorted electric guitar, and bass produces menacing melodic shards. This is interrupted by, and commented on, by the unison horns. A fierce guitar solo is the icing on this particular cake. Heavy-rock-jazz-prog, anyone? Fabulous!
There is a loping, reverb drenched, hip-hop groove to Experiment No. 3. It has delicate cymbal work and upright bass giving foundation to a bluesy sax solo that is the very definition of soulful. The closing track, White Lodge, is a hypnotic, Radiohead-like wonky-waltz. It manages to have an atmospheric ambience about it whilst still being loud and forceful.
So Anthem, for my money, is a triumph. It contains musicianship of the highest order that is aimed at embellishing the formidable, emotional content of the music. None of the musicians in this ensemble: Dylan Heaney (alto and tenor saxophones), Phil Rodriguez (trumpet), Simon Kafka (electric and acoustic guitars), Mike Cassedy (piano, keyboards), Benjamin Campbell (electric and upright bass) and Jordan Perlson (drums) play in any flashy or showboating way, they let the melodies breathe. All their obvious prowess is used in the service of the music.
I worry that, being innovative, intriguing and unique, that this album may fall between the cracks. Jazz purists may dislike its rock and prog elements. The rock purist may, similarly, dislike the jazzy improvisations. So it may be up to prog fans to embrace this joyous and adventurous release. If you love the off the wall prog in Frank Zappa's Hot Rats, then please give this a go, it's just as brilliant in its own way.
Conclusion: 10 out of 10
-Martin Burns, Dutch Progressive Rock Page
Additional Press for Anthem
“Like their Brooklyn-based brethren Snarky Puppy, the East West Quintet is a clever, highly disciplined instrumental unit . . . that marries visceral rock with jazzy improvisation and other disparate elements into an intriguing brew.”
-Bill Milkowski, DownBeat
“More forward thinking than left leaning, this is jazz of tomorrow for the open eared and adventurous.”
-Chris Spector, Midwest Jazz Record
“East West Quintet have created something quite unique with Anthem. The combination of heavy rock chords and jazzy complexity is both adventurous and totally absorbing. Excellent stuff!”
-Jon Neudorf, Sea of Tranquility
“ . . . extremely well-played instrumental music of skill and introspection.”
-Phillip Freeman, The New York City Jazz Record
“With most tracks coming in around the 4-6 minute mark, there is a minimum of pretension – but an abundance of instrumental goodness.”
-Avant Music News
“Lots of intriguing ideas meld well with accessible grooves here.”
-George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
"So Anthem, for my money, is a triumph. It contains musicianship of the highest order that is aimed at embellishing the formidable, emotional content of the music. None of the musicians in this ensemble . . . play in any flashy or showboating way, they let the melodies breathe. All their obvious prowess is used in the service of the music."
-Martin Burns, Dutch Progressive Rock Page
Press for Vast
"Progressive ears are sure to dig it."
-Chris Spector, Midwest Record
". . . successfully integrates rock into jazz without losing the latter genre's improvisational skill and daring."
-Joseph Taylor, Sound Stage
"Where others of this ilk might simply grandstand via excessive riffing and forgettable pieces, this lot merges disparate structural and improvisational elements into an all-embracing methodology. Vast is an unanticipated musical treat for 2009."
-Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz
". . . intelligent tracks from a group unwilling to follow the herd or abet it."
-Mark S. Tucker, Fame Acoustic Music
"A lot of contemporary jazz acts might be heralded as a bridge for rock fans to cross over into jazz, but Vast is a one of the better built bridges of that kind I've heard in a long while."
-Pico, Something Else
"It’s adventurous music played by a highly able quintet. They seem to be happy exploring the spaces between the genres, blending, molding and meshing to make a new sound that still manages to be all jazz."
-Kyle O’Brien, Jazz Society of Oregon
"Vast will stretch your imagination"
-Analyn Revilla, City of the Angels Music
“Mike Cassedy is consistently effective”
-Marc Meyers, All About Jazz
The East West Quintet formed in 2003 and Anthem is the follow up to their 2009 release, Vast. Anthem is a smartly produced and arranged work where every track has something new and interesting to say. There are phrases in the melodic lines and arrangements that call to mind other artists, such as Miles Davis, (hey, they have a trumpet player) or Wayne Shorter (hey, they have a sax player) or the dynamism of Pastorius-era Weather Report and so on, but this band are really, on the evidence of this release, one of a kind.
But don't let the jazz elements that I have mentioned so far put you off listening to this recording. There is so much more going on. The opener, Draft, begins with Phillip Glass like ominous piano chords that anchors the piece before the band comes in to mutate the theme in a very prog way. They throw in distorted electric guitar with light syncopated drumming. It has a brilliantly controlled dynamism.
Interstellar is an introspective ballad with a tune to die for. It builds from an electric piano and bass opening to a magnificent, emotionally charged trumpet solo that takes it out of this world. Interstellar is shaping up to be my favourite track released in 2015. It is exquisite.
Then there is the prog-blues of Collider that uses chiming acoustic guitar and electric piano to evoke a warm autumn evening in the song's first half, before sunny horn phrases give it body and the sax has a solo of quiet beauty.
The East West Quintet push the innovations further with Action Figure. A heavy rock riff spread across distorted electric guitar, and bass produces menacing melodic shards. This is interrupted by, and commented on, by the unison horns. A fierce guitar solo is the icing on this particular cake. Heavy-rock-jazz-prog, anyone? Fabulous!
There is a loping, reverb drenched, hip-hop groove to Experiment No. 3. It has delicate cymbal work and upright bass giving foundation to a bluesy sax solo that is the very definition of soulful. The closing track, White Lodge, is a hypnotic, Radiohead-like wonky-waltz. It manages to have an atmospheric ambience about it whilst still being loud and forceful.
So Anthem, for my money, is a triumph. It contains musicianship of the highest order that is aimed at embellishing the formidable, emotional content of the music. None of the musicians in this ensemble: Dylan Heaney (alto and tenor saxophones), Phil Rodriguez (trumpet), Simon Kafka (electric and acoustic guitars), Mike Cassedy (piano, keyboards), Benjamin Campbell (electric and upright bass) and Jordan Perlson (drums) play in any flashy or showboating way, they let the melodies breathe. All their obvious prowess is used in the service of the music.
I worry that, being innovative, intriguing and unique, that this album may fall between the cracks. Jazz purists may dislike its rock and prog elements. The rock purist may, similarly, dislike the jazzy improvisations. So it may be up to prog fans to embrace this joyous and adventurous release. If you love the off the wall prog in Frank Zappa's Hot Rats, then please give this a go, it's just as brilliant in its own way.
Conclusion: 10 out of 10
-Martin Burns, Dutch Progressive Rock Page
Additional Press for Anthem
“Like their Brooklyn-based brethren Snarky Puppy, the East West Quintet is a clever, highly disciplined instrumental unit . . . that marries visceral rock with jazzy improvisation and other disparate elements into an intriguing brew.”
-Bill Milkowski, DownBeat
“More forward thinking than left leaning, this is jazz of tomorrow for the open eared and adventurous.”
-Chris Spector, Midwest Jazz Record
“East West Quintet have created something quite unique with Anthem. The combination of heavy rock chords and jazzy complexity is both adventurous and totally absorbing. Excellent stuff!”
-Jon Neudorf, Sea of Tranquility
“ . . . extremely well-played instrumental music of skill and introspection.”
-Phillip Freeman, The New York City Jazz Record
“With most tracks coming in around the 4-6 minute mark, there is a minimum of pretension – but an abundance of instrumental goodness.”
-Avant Music News
“Lots of intriguing ideas meld well with accessible grooves here.”
-George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
"So Anthem, for my money, is a triumph. It contains musicianship of the highest order that is aimed at embellishing the formidable, emotional content of the music. None of the musicians in this ensemble . . . play in any flashy or showboating way, they let the melodies breathe. All their obvious prowess is used in the service of the music."
-Martin Burns, Dutch Progressive Rock Page
Press for Vast
"Progressive ears are sure to dig it."
-Chris Spector, Midwest Record
". . . successfully integrates rock into jazz without losing the latter genre's improvisational skill and daring."
-Joseph Taylor, Sound Stage
"Where others of this ilk might simply grandstand via excessive riffing and forgettable pieces, this lot merges disparate structural and improvisational elements into an all-embracing methodology. Vast is an unanticipated musical treat for 2009."
-Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz
". . . intelligent tracks from a group unwilling to follow the herd or abet it."
-Mark S. Tucker, Fame Acoustic Music
"A lot of contemporary jazz acts might be heralded as a bridge for rock fans to cross over into jazz, but Vast is a one of the better built bridges of that kind I've heard in a long while."
-Pico, Something Else
"It’s adventurous music played by a highly able quintet. They seem to be happy exploring the spaces between the genres, blending, molding and meshing to make a new sound that still manages to be all jazz."
-Kyle O’Brien, Jazz Society of Oregon
"Vast will stretch your imagination"
-Analyn Revilla, City of the Angels Music
“Mike Cassedy is consistently effective”
-Marc Meyers, All About Jazz