Doxas Brothers The Circle

Doxas Brothers
The Circle
Justin Time

The Doxas Brothers, Chet on saxophone and Jim on drums, have been making music together since they were in the crib. In their Mid-teens, they started playing in night clubs, and their early days found them playing in dance bands, rock n roll clubs, society parties, radio shows, and even burlesque reviews. Since those days, Jim and Chet have gone on to tour the world and played with some jazz giants, including Carla Bley, Oliver Jones, Dave Douglas, John Abercrombie, Steve Swallow, and Joe Lovano.

Filling out the band are bassist Adrian Vedady and pianist Marc Copland. Vedady is a long-time associate of both brothers and has played with Jim at the Upstairs Jazz Bar in Montreal every Monday night for the last ten years. Copland, Jim, and Adrian have performed together as a trio for several years, providing a tight, empathic setting to add saxophonist Chet. Copland dazzles on the title tune as well as on Adrian Vedady's "Temporal," after the composer's impressive bass solo. "Temporal" is also notable in showcasing the band's ability to shift the musical temperature as the performance evolves.

Chet Doxas also composed a gorgeous ballad, "A Word to the Wise," that is played at a stately tempo with exceptional solos from him and pianist Copland. Another notable track is "Joan's Song," which had moments that suggested Keith Jarrett's American Quartet. "Another Soapbox" is a terrific performance that starts as a pianoless trio before Copland enters with restrained piano. Chet Doxas plays with plenty of fire before Copland solos with Jim Doxas imaginatively adding rolls and rhythm accents.

Chet Doxas displays his exquisite ballad playing on Gordon Jenkins' jazz standard "Goodbye." It concludes this consistently excellent recording. The Doxas Brothers impress with this recording, and one looks forward to more from this superb band.

I received a download of this album from a publicist. Here the Doxas Brothers perform "The Circle."