Mosaic Sextet: Mosaic Sextet

Glenn Astarita

Senior Contributor since 1997

Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.

Recent articles (1,632 total)

Published: July 1, 2001

No doubt, the folks at “GM Recordings” have done a great service for modern jazz aficionados by reissuing one previously hard to find German import CD and another CD featuring previously unreleased material by a true cutting edge, band known as “The Mosaic Sextet”.

Fans of trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas, violinist Mark Feldman, bassist Joe Fonda and pianist Michael Jefry Stevens should have something to get all worked up about, with this smartly packaged 2-CD set! Recorded between 1988-1990, this ensemble melded bassoonist Michael Rabinowitz’ jazzy lines with penetrating rhythmic underpinnings along with Douglas and Feldman’s rapid fire unison lines and richly thematic cross-currents. Simply put, this unit was in a class of its own as they fabricated interweaving motifs brimming with hard boiled swing vamps, experimental harmonic and rhythmic patterns, modern/free-jazz exchanges and orchestral voicings. Otherwise, the band traverses through a series of tricky time signatures, lofty peaks, cavernous regions of sound and previously uncharted musical terrain. Subsequently, these musicians’ have garnered accolades and prominence within modern jazz circles. However, much of the music presented on these two CDs may have provided a spark for the respective instrumentalists continual development and willingness to take risks! Basically, the Mosaic Sextet is one of the year’s most important, and altogether essential offerings. Strongly recommended!

GM Recordings

Track Listing: Disc One: Mosaic, Gang Wars, Mr. Phinney, In Progress, Oskar, Superconductor, Drum Song, Trio for Sextet, Children'

Personnel: Dave Douglas; trumpet/composer: Michael Jefry Stevens; piano/composer: Mark Feldman

Record Label: GM Recordings
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream