Alex Sipiagin
Generations: Dedicated to Woody Shaw
Criss Cross Records
www.crisscrossjazz.com
By George W. Harris

The frustratingly overlooked trumpet great Woody Shaw is honored here in a pleasant and expressive release by fellow horn player Alex Sipiagin. Along with the spacious support of Adam Rogers/g, Boris Kozlov/b and Antonio Sanchez/dr, Sipiagin mixes originals with songs associated with Shaw. Larry Young’s “Obsequious” and Shaw’s own “Katrina Ballerina” have an attractive elasticity to them, as Rogers’ ice cool guitar gives a panoramic background to the proceedings. Sipiagin’s horn is chestnutty on his own pair of Greenwood tunes, while Koslov and Sanchez provide subtle yet propulsive undercurrents. Impressive work here for post-bop fans.