“Les Go” is, in alto saxophonist Devin’s own words, a “running out the gates” first year on the scene after graduation, album, and augurs well for the future. Daniel knew pianist Chris Fishman from middle school (interestingly his roots lay in Gospel until the discovered Brad Mehldau) and grew up with drummer Benjamin Ring in Inglewood, meeting trumpeter Julien Knowles at Berkeley College of Music in Boston. Devin’s Dad was a fan of smooth jazz and Devin credits him with kindling his musical flame. Thankfully, it’s not smooth jazz on show here but what Devin calls “pushing the boundaries of bebop with familiarity and novelty.” So, despite their relative inexperience, this is a tightly-knit group.
As for the music itself, there is an exhilarating reading of John Coltrane’s ‘Spiral’ from his “Giant Steps” album, veering between swing and avant with scope for the soloists on trumpet and piano, Fishman, in Daniels’ words, “shreds over everything he wants”, an unusual phrase, suggesting he is rather good, which he is; an ardent walking bassline also emerges during the trumpet solo, showing the other musicians are no slouches either. ‘N’s N’ contains a fascinating conversation between sax and trumpet, while ‘Reckon’ is more of a reflective ballad. The tone of Daniels’ alto sax on ‘Hymn’ is quite exquisite.
Devin Daniels is a self-effacing character who gives his rhythm section a lot of credit for the music that is produced. Already, he has quite a CV, and has rubbed shoulders with jazz giants like Herbie Hancock and Pat Metheny along the way. Clearly, this talented alto saxophonist and band leader is one to watch.
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