Rating: NNNN
It’s hard to believe this follow-up to his 2003 Juno winner, Tales From The Blue Lounge, is only Underhill’s second solo album. As a founding member of the Shuffle Demons and a noted session sax player who puts in time with Blue Rodeo, Underhill seems to have been around forever. This album, co-produced by Jono Grant and Underhill, continues to deliver the goods, and may be one of the best-sounding of the year. All the better to hear the intense rhythm section, especially on Perry’s Place and Day Off, where the drums and bass create an organic, driving force for Underhill and keys master Luis Guerra to go off on wild warring solos. Competition here is healthy, bringing out the best in everyone, with Bob Brough’s tenor sax sweetly countering Underhill’s alto. A thoroughly modern take on modern jazz, à la Coleman and Hawkins.
