Jim Josselyn, Cadence Magazine

Swagger

Websters New Collegiate Dictionary initially defines swagger as "to conduct oneself in an arrogant or superciliously pompous manner." After listening to a few of these warm, swinging, joyful numbers, I decided that a definition that appears later, "self-confident, elegant," must have been more in tune with what Robert Lewis and Frank Duvall had in mind.

"Finders Keepers," a hip reworking of the always fresh, always challenging Coltrane milestone "Giant Steps," opens the set quite nicely with a strong melody, hip chord substitutions, hot solos and tight rapport among the players.

"Skating" is a nostalgic soundtrack to a winter day at the pone in three-quarter time. Tighten up your laces and join Linus and Lucy on the ice!

On "Cooter Point," the obligatory line on "I Got Rhythm," Lewis plays a strong rhythmic horn solo, but pianist Bill Anschell steals the show with ominous, thunderbolt chords at the beginning of his solo that give way to some articulate boppin' blues based lines. Composer Duvall also contributes from his bass.

Compositionally speaking, "High Humidity" is the high point of a recording consisting entirely of solid original compositions. Everybody shines on this spritely number, with drummer Quentin Baxter swinging hard in accompaniment and solo turns.

"The Gloaming" is a pensive, modern ballad with a subtle Latin beat and free flowing harmony.

"Swagger" is a hip tense up-tempo burner and is a very impressive closer on a very impressive recording.