Ned Otter - Secrets Inside (CD)

All Music Guide

This large-ensemble affair represents tenor saxophonist Ned Otter's second release for the independent Two and Four Recordings record label. Known for his affiliations with jazz icons such as Dizzy Gillespie, George Coleman, and Clark Terry, the saxophonist possesses a boppish mode of attack combined with a strong sense of swing. Moreover, Otter and his nonet fuse little big-band-type horn charts with sprightly Afro-Cuban grooves, straight-ahead swing, and dreamy soundscapes. With this outing, Otter leads the charge as his bandmates keep bravado and dazzle to a minimum while churning out brazen choruses and peppery rhythms. They navigate a jazz waltz motif on the aptly titled "Waltzing Westward." However, the key to success for this band resides within its acute melding of old-school practices with a hip demeanor. Otter's full-bodied tone serves as the driving force in concert with his musical associates' sequential soloing spots and climactically driven opuses. This is a top-flight se...ssion, digitally recorded at ~St. Peter's Church in New York City. - Glenn Astarita, All Music Guide Read more Less