Dave Wilson Quartet
Spiral
Summit Records
www.summitrecords.com
By George W. Harris

Saxophonist Davie Wilson leads a quartet with Phil Markowitz/p, Tony Marino/b and Adam Nussbaum through eleven songs that mix self-penned tunes with a few intriguing covers. The Grateful Dead’s “Friend Of The Devil” and Creed’s “My Own Prison,” as well as Ritchie Bierach’s “Elm” and Toninho Horta’s “Francisca” fit in like pieces of a puzzle here. Wilson gives about an even split between his soprano and tenor. Is it just me, or does the music seem like a jazz version of indie rock? Like most modern pop singers tend to never get too loud or soft, Wilson and company keep the music fairly muted and a bit languid. Even the more assertive “Spiral” and “My Own Prison” seem more intellectual than visceral. The interplay with Wilson and his rhythm team on the more tender pieces tend to meander more than emote. The whole disc feels a bit like a run through for a live performance, warming up for the real deal.