John McNeil East Coast Cool CD

Personnel: John McNeil (trumpet); John Paul McNeil (trumpet); John Hebert (bass instrument); Matt Wilson (slide whistle, drums); Allan Chase (baritone saxophone).
Liner Note Author: Frank Tafuri.
Recording information: Park West Studios, Brooklyn, NY (01/09/2004-01/11/2004).
Photographer: Frank Tafuri.
John McNeil had the idea of applying some of Gerry Mulligan's arranging principles to free jazz after arranging some of the late baritone saxophonist's music for a tribute band. Recruiting baritone saxophonist Alan Chase, bassist John Hebert, and the much in-demand drummer Matt Wilson, McNeil's experiment creates some provocative music. "Deadline" features a constantly shifting time signature, changing its mood throughout the piece, contrasting it with the more steady and loping "A Time to Go." McNeil's humorous take of "Bernie's Tune" (long a part of Mulligan's repertoire, though written by Bernie Miller) quickly takes it away from its roots for a wild ride on his horn into the world of free jazz. He also adapts Arnold Schoenberg's 12-tone classical music into his realm with his playful arrangement of "Schoenberg's Piano Concerto." Throughout the session the band is up to the challenges of McNeil's compelling music, producing a provocative CD that should open ears for decades to come. ~ Ken DrydenDown Beat (p.71) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "McNeil brings out the improvisational potential of the lineup while acknowledging the enduring popularity of Mulligan's music."
JazzTimes (p.121) - "McNeil is a trumpeter of easy poise and bright imagination, and he sounds like he's having fun here."