Rajiv Halim / Sharel Cassity / Greg Ward / Richard D. Johnson / Jeremiah Hunt / Michael Piolet

A throwback to such multi-reed showpieces like Four Altos with Phil Woods and Gene Quill or Very Saxy with Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and Buddy Tate, Altoizm combines the talents of three Chicago-area alto saxophonists for a set of seven originals. Leaders all, Rajiv Halim, who has worked with Chance the Rapper and Robert Irving III; Sharel Cassity who has been a member of DIVA and Jimmy Heath’s big band; and Greg Ward who has played with Tortoise and Mike Reed; are advanced mainstreamers who express themselves forcefully on the mostly rhythmic tunes. The tunes were composed by each of the three saxophonists as well as pianist/engineer Richard D. Johnson, who has a long history of working on Wynton Marsalis’ discs. Each track along with a swing feeling and evolves without a note out of place or a melody compromised by excesses.

Taken together these attributes are also the session’s drawbacks. Clean, layered and energetic, animated alto solo follows animated alto solo with mere smidges of tone and technique separating them. There are some well executed unison vamps and the occasional reed bite (as on “Last Minute”), warm massed interludes (“The Mighty Mayfly of Truth”) and melancholy asides (“Thoroughbred”), but no grainy textures or out-of-the-ordinary technique extensions are showcased. Johnson provides some Bluesy glissandi while Michael Piolet’s drums ads distinctive cymbal pumps and hiss. Yet anything more than expected timbres are missing.

Altoizm seems to be designed for those who appreciate bright swing and sunny solos yet shy far away from musical aggression or confrontation. It will be embraced by those listeners since the players and the arrangements easily attain their limited goals. Since perfection doesn’t mean progression though, the notion that something is missing remains.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Cedar Groove 2. Bembe’s Kids 3.The Mighty Mayfly of Truth 4. Thoroughbred 5. The Time Has Come 6. John Cotton 7. Last Minute

Personnel: Rajiv Halim, Sharel Cassity, Greg Ward (alto saxophones); Richard D. Johnson (piano); Jeremiah Hunt (bass) and Michael Piolet (drums)