Brahja Waldman and his quartet are a common sight in jazz clubs in New England and their native Quebec. Waldman, a saxophonist and the song-writer for the group, fronts a talented young group of musicians. The group's first album, Brahja Waldman's Quartet! (the exclaimation point seems to be mandatory), creates a contrast of styles, from the playful to the offbeat. But, if there would be one word to describe the band, it would be “controlled”. While there's a tendency for modern jazz outfits to veer into free jazz sounds, Waldman's quartet keeps that impulse tightly in rein. The modern jazz influences are very subtle, mostly contained to repetitive phrasing (like the repeated sax lines in “Body Asking Shadow, “How Do You Keep Up”?) and the very occasional squall of sax noise from Waldman. Pianist Shadrach Hankoffi adds some playful piano in parts, but, as a whole, this band is very tightly wound and deliberate. Almost too deliberate it seems. As an listening experience, this album tends to drag a bit. A bit more experimentation would do Waldman a boon. Overall though, this is pretty good coffee-shop style jazz.

By Steve Marlow
Oct 16, 2011