Mike Greenblatt, The Aquarian (Rant ‘n’ Roll)
Jazz Romanticism From A Radiohead Fan
If German composer Robert Schumann [1810-1856] is rolling over in his grave right now, it may be because he somehow heard Chase Baird’s rendition of his classical gas called “Im Wunderschonen Monat Mai.” With the help of drums/piano/guitar/bass, composer/saxophonist Baird jams it out for almost eight minutes to close his delicious A Life Between (SoundsAbound Records). Of course, if he had his way, he’d be in his favorite band, Radiohead, but that’s not likely to happen anytime soon. So it’s a life between his prog-rock leanings, his Coltrane fanaticism and his penchant for classical romanticism as seen through a jazz prism. Pretty damn cool.