Joel Haynes Trio & Seamus Blake - Transitions (2008)

Drummer Joel Haynes, pianist Tilden Webb, and bassist Jodi Proznick first met up in Montreal in the late 1990s. Although they have since moved (with Haynes settling in Toronto while Webb and Proznick relocated to Vancouver), they have remained friends. Whenever they play together, there is a close musical communication between the musicians, making the Joel Haynes Trio a group that often thinks as one. However as good as each of the players sound throughout Transitions, the consistent star is their guest, tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake. Blake's passionate tone, modern style, and inventive ideas result in his solos dominating the music. The members of the trio each contribute two songs apiece, mostly utilizing fairly original chord changes (though Haynes' "Impress Me" is based on "Impressions"). Each of the pieces seem to inspire Blake, whose spirited and extroverted improvisations uplift the group and inspire everyone to play at their best. The result is a high-quality modern mainstream jazz date by a notable quartet. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow