Featured Artist: Second Movement

CD Title: Self-titled

Year: 2005

Record Label: Warmer Records

Style: Various Jazz Styles

Musicians: David Caputo (alto saxophone), Mark Hanna (guitar), Justin Kimmel (bass), Matthew Tredwell (drums)

Review:

Talk about starting off with definition! Second Movement, a precise band that combines the electricity of acid jazz with the intricacies of fusion and sprinklings of smooth jazz, will capture your attention immediately either because of its intensity and drive or because of the delicate detail of its compositions.  Using the backdrop of deep, smoldering drums and handsomely chorded keyboards (often employing lots of reverb and tremolo and occasional distortion), the upfront sax playing is presented with clarity and pride.

This group trumpets its mission of a “bopping dancefloor.”  I like that very fitting description, because I can easily envision it. From the opening note, these guys are all over the style map, and you can dance to most of it!  Track 1, “Featherweight,” is the absolute antithesis of its title.  This is anything but a lightweight piece!  Also, I’m not really sure what they actually mean by characterizing their material as “old school,” but I guess some of the sax solos can be traced to early straight-ahead jazz (hard to tell with the infectious, intensely pulsating, and demanding drums and overall aura). There’s even a touch of electronica here, but it blends in nicely. Of special note to me: Track 2, “Between the Sheetz,” has a really cool/funky and definable hook.  Track 5 works the fusion link to the max, displaying some seriously potent technique. Track 6 is another piece full of nicely voiced funk. 

As if this wasn’t enough, they graced Jazzreview with a copy of some tracks from their forthcoming album (untitled at this moment) to whet our appetites for what’s to come. Very consistent and easily likable.  One point of displeasure for me would be the awful lettering on the group's CD cover (terribly hard to read!). This mainly matters if you like reading liner notes, as I do.

All in all, you can see yourself cutting loose on the dance floor on a lot of these selections…but you may also find yourself just marveling at the incredible depth and sense of measured urgency displayed by this group and their material.  Look for a lot from these guys.

Tracks:

Featherweight, Between the Sheetz, Moonlight Weightbelt, The Hup, Spellbound, Anything but Reason, Ev'ry Man a King, Mid-February Stress Test

 

Record Label Website: http://www.warmerrecords.com

Artist's Website: http://www.secondmovement.com

Reviewed by: Ronald Jackson

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