On his debut as a leader,
Rich Perry (a longtime member of the Mel Lewis Orchestra) often recalls
Warne Marsh, playing harmonically advanced lines that are full of unusual twists. Occasionally he also sounds a little like
Eddie Harris and
Stan Getz, but in general his dry yet fairly colorful improvisations are quite original. With strong assistance from pianist
Harold Danko, bassist
Scott Colley, and drummer Jeff Hirshfield,
Perry is in top form on a set dominated by obscure material, including two
Thad Jones songs;
Antonio Carlos Jobim's attractive "Retrato Em Braco E Preto"; and originals by Maria Schneider,
Danko, and himself. This modern mainstream jazz contains plenty of fire along with a variety of moods. ~ Scott Yanow