Guitarist Jason Keiser leads a two guitar team alongside John Stowell with the horns of Erik Jekabson/tp-fh and Aaron Lington/bs and a rhythm section of Dan Robbins/b and Jason Lewis/dr for an album focusing on material written by the late great Woody Shaw, along with some material from the pen of Ronnie Matthews, Larry Young and himself.
While known as an inspiring trumpet player, Shaw’s compositions hold up well in the unorthodox setting, as Jekabson is clear and the guitars steer well through “Organ Grinder” while Lington’s deep sax sounds comfortable swaying through “Zoltan” . The guitars bopp through “Moontrane” and are gentle on the easy “Katerina Ballerine” while “Blues For Woody” is a muscular setting for the baritone saxist and “Obsequious” has Jekabson in a fluffy mood”. Keiser’s own “Shaw’s Groove” has the horns swaying , and Jean Marie is a soulful strut. An overdue salute to a neglected double threat giant.