On Side By Side saxophonist Brad Walker teams up with the trio of musicians—keyboardist Oscar Rossignoli, bassist Matt Booth and drummer Brad Webb—known collectively as Extended. It’s a familiar setting for him—as well as them—having hooked up fairly often at live performances. They also share a certain like-mindedness in the way they musically converse on primarily original material coming from the pens of Walker, Booth and Webb.
The album opens with Booth’s lovely title cut. The exchanges between Walker and Rossignoli hold a sweetness accented by the keyboardist’s use of the upper notes of the acoustic piano. A roll of the drums marks the turning point of the selection as it, and particularly Walker’s tenor, becomes insistently passionate.
The calm and beauty of the first tune continue on Johannes Brahms’ “Intermezzo Op. 117, No. 2” that was arranged or perhaps more accurately described as re-imagined by Rossignoli. It too takes off in unexpected directions with the saxophonist heading out and the group entering into Latin jazz territory. In steps Rossignoli, who reinforces that journey.
Booth’s bowed bass, generally lower tonal qualities and a kind of rumbling that begin Walker’s “Song #37: Alaya or “The Still Small Voices” give it a somber edge. As do the previous cuts, it evolves especially as Walker picks up the higher- and lighter-pitched soprano sax.
The drummer’s brushes and the individual notes from Booth’s bass begin another gently serious cut, “Music for Dancers,” that almost suggests, thanks to Rossignoli, a classical piece. Walker’s breathy horn offers deep emotion.
A big change comes as wavering electronic effects, prayer bells and just a touch of drums fill Walker’s “Ouroboros.” Though the chant-like, repeated phrases of the piano echo the spiritual nature of the tune’s beginning, it too moves on to lift itself into the joyfulness of freedom.
Side By Side should stand as an ear-opener for those who have yet to discover these exceptional musicians who have become the rising stars on the New Orleans jazz scene today.
