Shawn Maxwell Originals on All About Jazz
Published on August 30th, 2006
Multiple-reedman Shawn Maxwell’s debut is entitled Originals, since he penned all the tunes on the disc. He could just have well entitled it “original voice,” given his edgy, high-energy, unique approach to jazz—not quite mainstream, not quite free, not quite like anyone else I hear out there these days. The closest comparison might be the late alto saxophonist Jackie McLean. Maxwell has a similarly strung-tight, tart, piercing voice on his saxophones, and his compositions—like McLean’s—are full of sharp edges and odd angles, always feeling a little bit on the ominous side.
