Abstract:
Jan -Mar 2012 edition of Cadence Magazine.From "Slims Spins" p148 This live recording, billed as the Australasian Project, comes to us as a two-disc set of six long tracks (D. Day/Well You Needn’t/The Jocelyn Jive/Fried Bananas/Brother Randolph/Blues for Marty White). It’s one of the best newly issued hard bop recordings from current players I’ve heard in quite some time. Manins sounds incredible throughout, but he’s particularly exceptional on the 20-minute plus version of Monk’s “Well You Needn’t.” It starts out slow but heats up quickly and never fades energy wise. This two sax line-up is strong--check out the killer unison opening on “Jocelyn.” Nevertheless I found myself consistently engaged when guitarist Dewhurst was in the mix. He digs in deep in both the Hard Bop and nu-Bop camps and has a great, aggressive solo on Kirk Lightsey’s “Brother Rudolph.” There isn’t a bad track in the bunch, although “Blues for Marty” is fairly typical blues blowing. Having said that, it’s all relative and if this is what was playing in any local bar anywhere in the world, I’d grab a seat and take it in... Manins et al. aren’t merely recreating--they’re creating new music by taking Hard Bop elements to new places. This is one recording I’ll be as likely to reach for as much as I would a Jazz Messengers side .These guys from down under deserve a spot up top.
