DAVE ANDERSON

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS

LABEL 1 Records

Dave Anderson, soprano & tenor saxophones; Grant Richards, piano; Lorin Cohen, acoustic & electric bass; Jimmy Macbride, drums.

Dave Anderson uses his super smooth saxophone tones to celebrate and honor a few jazz musicians who have shaped our lives. “In Lieu of Flowers” is an homage to jazz luminaries like Wayne Shorter and Maria Schneider.  It is also meant to applaud music educators who have been personal inspirations to Anderson.  This project displays his technique and talent on both tenor and soprano saxophones.  Additionally, Anderson has composed all the songs for this album.

“As a composer, I’ve tried to capture some essence of each inspiring subject and write music that communicates something essential to listeners, via the musicians in this quartet,” Anderson wrote in his press package.

The quartet opens with a tune Dave calls “Outer Circle.”  his soprano sax comes dancing out the gate like an excited racehorse. Anderson establishes the melody, then gives the spotlight to Grant Richards on piano who improvises grandly.  This is a tune played at a moderate tempo, but full of energy and excitement.

The original composition “One for Wayne” is beautifully written and snatches my attention from the very first musical phrases. Anderson picks up his tenor saxophone for this arrangement. Clearly this is a nod to Wayne Shorter.  This tune quickly becomes one of my favorites. At times, Anderson’s playing reminds me of the late, great Stan Getz.  Richards performs another stellar solo on piano, and they end with an oblique coda.

When Dave Anderson’s mother passed away, he created a small haven in his apartment to process the loss.  When grief finally released his heart from weeping, he composed “Sanctuary.” Anderson performs this song as a duet with Richards on piano.

Recognizing that life throws people unexpectedly into headwinds, challenges and forces us to make changes and choices, this song is more up tempo and very uplifting. Called “Upwind,” it represents a part of Anderson’s life where he walked bravely into the winds of change. Lorin Cohen steps forward to execute a compelling solo on his acoustic bass instrument.

Throughout, Jimmy Macbride holds the quartet in perfect time with his busy, but dependable drums. This is a delightful excursion into the imagination and emotions of composer Dave Anderson.  His quartet is brilliant.  They create a musical path for us to stroll down, while tributing the talents and memories of those no longer here with us, “In Lieu of Flowers.”  It’s an album to enjoy from start to finish, from the ‘now’ to the forever.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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