REVIEWS

In a quartet where almost everyone’s name begins with “Doctor”, you might expect the music to be stuffy at best. Academia has developed a reputation- right or wrong – for carefully guarding antiquated traditions, especially when it comes to music. I am a product of the teaching of three members of FOUR (Smith, Watkins, and Gudmundson), and thankfully, this belief does not apply to these titans of the saxophone. While certainly some of the most capable on the classical saxophone canon, the musicians of FOUR are stunningly fluent in the jazz and contemporary idioms.

Don’t let the simplicity of their chosen moniker fool you. On the outing that matches their name, FOUR again pushes the saxophone quartet into exciting new territory with complex arrangements and technical performance at the highest level. Although the saxophone and its repertoire is still in its infancy compared to other instruments, these master musicians seem to be a million miles from the first saxophone quartets penned by Jean-Baptiste Singelée in the 19th century.

Similar to their previous three releases, “Got Somethin’ to Say” again showcases the expansive vocabulary and dexterity of Watkins, Smith, Mayhew, and Gudmundson. FOUR assembles a captivating setlist of Watkins’ extraordinarily inventive compositions mixed with a few well-known themes, and a Gudmundson original (“There You Go Thinking Again”). In addition to the expected swing and Latin cuts, the players’ formidable bop chops are front and center as they weave “Donna Lee” and “Back Home Again in Indiana” into one marvelous whole that makes one wonder why they haven’t always been played together. On the album’s cover tunes, the ensemble tackles the jump swing sound of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (“Go Daddy-O”) as well as the funk-laden riffs of the Brecker Brothers (“Some Skunk Funk”).

I spent several years learning the art of jazz from the members of FOUR. On this latest release, class is in session once again. Take note because these guys definitely “Got Somethin’ to Say”!

Caleb Chapman
President, Jazz Education Network
Director of the award winning Crescent Super Band