At least I get variety in the records that I get to review. Five minutes ago I was listening to a Welsh rock band that kept each with every one of their songs under the two minute mark and now I am spinning some nice extended smooth jazz by the Joe Baer Magnant Group.
Naturally, “Liminal Spaces” has been released on the gloriously old fashioned vinyl format and that, I am sure, will aid its acceptance to the supper club audience who might well appreciate the ear friendly qualities that are to be found in these six instrumental songs.
To those who have never attended a convention held in a Ramada Inn, the very conventionality of the thoroughly jazz infused songs to be found on this album might lead them to believe they had been trapped in the elevator to hell yet the devil, as always, is in the detail. Tony Capriccio, as an example, enlivens “Trois Gnoissiennes” with the time defying sound of the Fender Rhodes while Joe Baer Magnant, himself, makes his guitar walk the virtuosity walk with understated fluency. This is indeed a musical experience more uplifting than depressing.
Of the songs, the casual flexibility evidenced in “Tezeta (Nostalgia)” is likely to provide the best impression of this quartet’s abilities. I feel quite calm now.