With so many young tenor saxophonists graduating from jazz college programs and easily able to negotiate the changes, it is increasingly difficult for players to distinguish themselves.
Tom Guillon is only partially successful in doing so, but, to his credit, he appears to recognize his strengths as a soloist and composer, and he focuses on them to good effect. Adding an electric guitar (
John Moulder) to the front line, while dropping the piano in the rhythm section, permits greater harmonic freedom, of which
Guillon takes advantage. The saxophonist is comfortable running through the chords, but he is best at carefully constructing solos of sometimes considerable depth. This recording should be a precursor of what can be expected as
Guillon continues to develop his individual voice and style. ~ Steve Loewy