Featured Artist: David Schumacher

CD Title: Endangered Species

Year: 2005

Record Label: Summit Records

Style: Straight-Ahead / Classic

Review:

There is nothing endangered about baritone saxman David Schumacher or his sound for that matter. Instead what you have here is a hard working musician with a penchant for straight-ahead jazz music.

David Schumacher is by no means a stranger to the jazz scene. His compelling sax work has added that special touch to such artists like Lionel Hampton, Art Blakey, Nicholas Payton and he takes credit as the founding member of the big band that jazz vocalist Harry Connick Jr. currently leads. The music here is "old school jazz" for want of a better word, that is replete with that big band sound and finger snapping melodies. "Henry's Mad Crazy Blues" and "398" are songs like these. "It's The Same Ole Dream" and "18th Hole" would make you want to go hear Schumacher perform live.

Elsewhere on the CD Schumacher has done a nice tribute to musician Pharaoh Sanders on "Homage to Pharaoh"; an organ filled vamp that is reminiscent of Jimmy Smith and the old jazz bands of yesteryear. And it's that type of nostalgic journey that Schumacher continues to take listeners on, via his own new compositions. There is sporadic spoken word riding atop jazz rhythms throughout this CD and it shows just how versatile Schumacher is. His voice sounds as one who has had too much cigarettes chased by cognac on "On Being Judgmental," "Kickin' a Very Cold Foul" and "Where It's Goin.'" Each spoken word has weighty, provoking topics that would make you think. Legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb guest appears.

Reviewed by: Asha Small

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