| boston horns | (c) 2010 |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Seacoast Online
Media Spotlight
May 2, 2002
Boogie Stop Shuffle
The Boston Horns are an out-growth of the former Boston-based band, Heavy Metal Horns. With this new band, saxophonist Henley Douglas and
trumpeter Garret Savluk mine the jazz-groove territory currently occupied by artists like Karl Denson, John Scofield, Maceo Parker and the band
Galactic. The Boston Horns traverse this territory very well on this fine CD.
Actually the sound that this band gets is closer to that of the Chicago-based band Liquid Soul. Like their Chicago brethren, the Boston Horns
aren't afraid to show their jazz leanings, like on the opening track "Head in The History", in which the two horns trade various snippets of bebop
melodies over the hard groove of the rhythm section.
Both horn players are solid improvisers. I've always enjoyed Douglas' playing. He gets a thick, rich sound on both the tenor and baritone saxes,
and his playing is thoughtfully melodic. Douglas doesn't overplay, instead favoring simpler solo that go with the groove of each tune. Likewise,
Savluk also plays simpler, more riff-oriented solos that fit in with the spirit of the music.
This isn't just a horn fest CD though. Guitarist Jeff Buckridge is a superb player, whose work all throughout this CD is smoldering. Likewise,
keyboardist Mark Longo colors the music beautifully with his imaginative accompaniments and solos. Bassist Mike Rush and drummer Jack
Howard Jr. lay down some terrific grooves that give all of the tunes a dance-like edge.
Highlights are many and varied. Try the medium-slow groove of Chez Buckway, or the latin drive of Next Time. Also check out the smoking version
of Charles Mingus' tune "Boogie Stop Shuffle," which lays Mingus' incisive melody over a hard, up-tempo funk groove that surely rocks the house
anytime this band plays out.
This is a fine first effort from a talented band that knows how to throw down the groove and stoke up the party.
Alan Chase
Spotlight's music reviewer and writer
Media Spotlight
May 2, 2002
Boogie Stop Shuffle
The Boston Horns are an out-growth of the former Boston-based band, Heavy Metal Horns. With this new band, saxophonist Henley Douglas and
trumpeter Garret Savluk mine the jazz-groove territory currently occupied by artists like Karl Denson, John Scofield, Maceo Parker and the band
Galactic. The Boston Horns traverse this territory very well on this fine CD.
Actually the sound that this band gets is closer to that of the Chicago-based band Liquid Soul. Like their Chicago brethren, the Boston Horns
aren't afraid to show their jazz leanings, like on the opening track "Head in The History", in which the two horns trade various snippets of bebop
melodies over the hard groove of the rhythm section.
Both horn players are solid improvisers. I've always enjoyed Douglas' playing. He gets a thick, rich sound on both the tenor and baritone saxes,
and his playing is thoughtfully melodic. Douglas doesn't overplay, instead favoring simpler solo that go with the groove of each tune. Likewise,
Savluk also plays simpler, more riff-oriented solos that fit in with the spirit of the music.
This isn't just a horn fest CD though. Guitarist Jeff Buckridge is a superb player, whose work all throughout this CD is smoldering. Likewise,
keyboardist Mark Longo colors the music beautifully with his imaginative accompaniments and solos. Bassist Mike Rush and drummer Jack
Howard Jr. lay down some terrific grooves that give all of the tunes a dance-like edge.
Highlights are many and varied. Try the medium-slow groove of Chez Buckway, or the latin drive of Next Time. Also check out the smoking version
of Charles Mingus' tune "Boogie Stop Shuffle," which lays Mingus' incisive melody over a hard, up-tempo funk groove that surely rocks the house
anytime this band plays out.
This is a fine first effort from a talented band that knows how to throw down the groove and stoke up the party.
Alan Chase
Spotlight's music reviewer and writer