Steve Fidyk Battle Lines

Steve Fidyk
Battle Lines
Blue Canteen Music

"Battle Lines" is the third album from drummer-composer-leader Steve Fidyk. Fidyk was for 21 years drummer and featured soloist with the Army Blues Big Band, a premier 17- piece jazz ensemble stationed in Washington DC. He also performs throughout the US with small groups led by tenor saxophonist Walt Weiskopf and guitarist Jack Wilkins, and he is a member of the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, a big band led by trumpeter Terell Stafford. He is an educator who is a member of the jazz studies faculty at Temple University and serves as an educational consultant for Jazz At Lincoln Center‘s Essentially Ellington program. For "Battle Lines" Fidyk leads an all-star band with an impressive front-line of trumpet legend Joe Magnarelli and tenor titan Xavier Perez, alongside the rhythm team of pianist Peter Zak, and bassist Michael Karn.

A simple, superficial description of the music here might be hard bop in the manner of Blakey, Louis Hayes-Woody Shaw, Cannonball Adderley, and others. The opening tune, Eddie Harris' "Ignominy," certainly is a stunning performance in this vein opening with Perez's robust tenor, followed by Magnarelli, and then Zak. Karn anchors the groove as the leader propels this excellent performance. It is the first of this album's splendid performances. This quintet shines on with the heat of Fidyk's title track, or the funky groove of his "Loopholes," where Fidyk dazzles while not overshadowing the front-line. Then there is Dave Brubeck's Chopin-inspired "Thank You (Dziekuje)," with a gorgeous melody and some sublime saxophone. Fidyk's drum teacher was Joe Morello, a member of Brubeck's legendary quintet, which adds a personal connection to this performance.

Fidyk's drums kick-off "Bebop Operations," which is a performance that conjures up classic Dizzy Gillespie. Magnarelli is in top form on this. It is followed by the oddly titled "Bootlicker's Blues," with its intriguing time shifts. Perez and Zak are featured before Fidyk solos with Zak comping. A ballad written for his parents, "Lullaby for Lori and John," places the spotlight on Magnarelli's hauntingly beautiful flugelhorn. A rendition of Charlie Parker's "Steeplechase," features a spirited Perez solo. Also of note is "Social Loafing," a relaxed swinging performance evocative of Gigi Gryce's "Social Call."

Steve Fidyk is quite impressive as a leader and composer, which is displayed superbly on this program of engaging originals and jazz chestnuts. Fidyk and company have produced a superlative recording in “Battle Lines.”

I received my review copy from Steve Fidyk. Here is a video of Steve with the Army Blues performing "Love For Sale."