Canadian-born saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk paid his dues playing in the bands of Ray Charles, Freddie Hubbard, Natalie Cole and Marcus Miller. In recent years he has put together his own dynamic ensemble, the Jazz Update, featuring Wade Beach on keyboards; Tom Baldwin, bass and Tony Martucci, percussion. The group's second album, "Brotherhood," finds them in great form on originals and classics. Antoniuk's compositions, which dominate the album, are no-nonsense, straight-ahead excursions. (Baldwin also contributes two fine tunes.) Wonderfully off-beat songs like "Meet Me at the Ponderosa" may remind you of Sonny Rollins' "Way Out West," and there are also gorgeous readings of Billy Strayhorn's "Isfahan" and Cole Porter's "All of You," not to mention an energetic medley of Tadd Dameron's "Hot House" and Thelonious Monk's "Evidence." Antoniuk is especially fired up on alto sax on his own "Global Village," but excellent solos by all of the musicians abound on an album with a creative spark that never lets up.





Comments for "Jeff Antoniuk and the Jazz Update “Brotherhood” " (0)
City Newspaper is not responsible for the content of these comments. City Newspaper reserves the right to remove comments at their discretion.
No comments have been posted. Be the first and add one below.
Leave A Comment
Respond on Your Blog
Create an Account
or
Login
If you have a City Account you can not only post comments, but you can also respond to articles in your own City Blog. It's just another way to make your voice heard.