John McNeil: East Coast Cool (OmniTone 15211)

Click here to buy EAST COAST COOL

Master trumpeter/composer John McNeil’s evolutionary new music, East Coast Cool, applies the classic West Coast jazz sound of the Gerry Mulligan-Chet Baker Quartet to the sensibilities of modern creative improvised music.  Eminently listenable and enjoyably inventive, the music merges East Coast intensity with West Coast economy of expression.

McNeil teams with Gerry-Mulligan-via-new-bop-channeling baritone saxophonist Allan Chase, madcap virtuoso drummer Matt Wilson, and vibrantly flexible bassist John Hebert for a generously spine-tingling musical treat.

The tunes on East Coast Cool are mostly reminiscent of the Mulligan-Baker Quartets, containing elements of the sound and feel of that quartet’s music without being re-creationist or imitative.  Though sophisticated, there’s also a cleanness, simplicity, and sense of play that can make any listener feel good about and groove with the music.  East Coast Cool should appeal to contemporary listeners as the then-new sounds of the Mulligan-Baker Quartet pleasantly perked up listeners’ ears in the ’50s.

John McNeil, trumpet
Allan Chase, baritone saxophone
John Hebert, bass
Matt Wilson, drums, slide whistle

Buy East Coast Cool now at the OmniTone store.

For sound samples, click on MP3 (for an MP3 sample) or WMA (for Windows Media):

1.  Deadline (5:15) MP3 WMA
2.  A Time to Go (5:55) MP3 WMA
3.  Brother Frank (5:14) MP3 WMA
4.  Bernie's Tune (Bernie Miller) (6:38) MP3 WMA
5.  Duet #1 (1:21)    
6.  Delusions (5:29) MP3 WMA
7.  Wanwood (4:36) MP3 WMA
8.  Internal Hurdles (4:58) MP3 WMA
9.  Duet #2 (1:46)    
10.  Waltz Helios (5:08) MP3 WMA
11.  Schoenberg's Piano Concerto (2:49) MP3 WMA
12.  GAB (Kenny Burger) (4:34) MP3 WMA

All compositions by John McNeil, CD Hotel (BMI), except where noted.
Recorded on 9-11 January 2004 at Park West Studios in Brooklyn, NY.

Recording Engineer: Jim Clouse
Mastering Engineer: Katherine Miller
Album Designers: Alicia Krueger, Frau Kranift
Liner notes and photos by Frank Tafuri
Producer: John McNeil
Executive Producer: Frank Tafuri

John McNeil plays a Bach 43 trumpet provided by the Conn-Selmer Instrument Company.

Matt Wilson appears courtesy of Palmetto Records.

Matt Wilson plays Pearl drums, Zildjiian cymbals and sticks, and Remo drumheads.

Buy East Coast Cool now at the OmniTone store.

©2018 OmniTone