Dick Metcalf, Improvijazzation Nation
This upcoming release from B.J. Jansen hits the streets on the 23rd of June, 2017, and if you love well-played high-energy jazz, this will fill the bill, to be sure… just listen to the rhythm-laden “Street Walk” to get a clear aural picture of just how much these fantastic players can do for your jazz thirst.. totally free and spontaneous playing that will set your mind free! B.J.’s sax work is joined by trombone from Delfeayo Marsalis, drums by Ralph Peterson, trumpet from Duane Eubanks, Dezron Douglas on bass and Zaccai Curtis doing piano and they just SMOKE it on the rousing “Bucket Full of Soul“… just the kind of jazz I cut my teeth on back in the day! Of the dozen songs offered up for your total groove, though, it is the fascinating title track, “Common Ground“, that turned out to be my pick for personal favorite… the playing is wild & free, yet still very accessible to jazz fans of any stripe. I give B.J. & his cohorts a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for this one, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.98.