Siren is
Walt Weiskopf's second nonet project for Criss Cross since 1995's
Song for My Mother. Joining the tenor saxophonist again are
Jim Snidero on alto, Anders Bostrom on flute,
Scott Robinson on bari sax and bass clarinet,
Joe Magnarelli on trumpet, and
Conrad Herwig on trombone. Pianist
Joel Weiskopf, bassist Doug Weiss, and drummer
Billy Drummond make up the rhythm section.
Weiskopf's arrangements are lush and well-crafted, especially on the ballad "Close Your Eyes," the artless and brief reading of "Baby Won't You Please Come Home," and the evocative waltz "Night in Ferrara." The flame is turned up on the burning "Zone" and
Snidero's 6/8 hard bop chart "In a Daze." Bostrom's alto flute solo on the breezily swinging title track is one of the album's best moments.
Snidero's alto sax on the same cut brings to mind
Cannonball Adderley's solo on the
Miles Davis classic "So What."
Weiskopf's tenor playing is fiery and inspired, and his fellow soloists are incredible, but one almost wishes there were more adventurous writing of the sort heard on the cryptic opening track, "Glass Eye," which fades out at just under two minutes. ~ David R. Adler