Live at the Silvermine

(Jazzheads - 1996)

Recording Credits: Musical consultant

Live at the Silvermine finds multi-reed player John Mastroianni in a jazz player's most productive milieu: stretching out in a club over a set of challenging and provocative compositions.

The material Mastroianni has chosen showcases the quartet admirably. "The Hang Man" starts things off in a relaxed swinging groove with a descending chord progression that provides the soloists with ample room to maneuver. The standard "It's You Or No One" is taken at an uptempo clip that finds Mastroianni and guitarist Steve Brien tossing off wry quotes from "Stranger in Paradise" and "I Get a Kick Out of You." Swartz shines as an integral member of the frontline on "The Sleeping Bear" and "Just Lookin'." The all-stops-out "Nasty Masty" is the highlight of the set with the quartet cookin' on all burners. The gentle "No Walls" brings the proceedings to a marvelous conclusion.

Live at the Silvermine is Mastroianni's finest release yet. It's a solid, swinging set that showcases everything good in a jazz performance.