Shawn Maxwell - J Town Suite (2023)

Playing alto and soprano sax as well as flute, Shawn Maxwell gets onto a soulful mood with Collin Clauson/key, Michael Barton/b and Greg Essig/dr on a mix of originals. Clauson’s rhodes makes the album feel like a Joe Sample vintage session,with Maxwell blowing smoke rings on “Steelmen March” and in a mellow mood on “Jerry”. Essig gets things in a quirky mood for Maxwell’s flute on “Tap, Keg & Tavern” while Maxwell whirls and wisps his flute on the spacey “In The Shadow Of Statesite”. The team finds a nice groove for the bopping “ Hickory Street” and “Ghost Mall on Jefferson”, making for a mix and match session of moods.~by George W. Harris