Waiting for You...

On the cover of Alex Clements' Waiting for You..., the veteran Canadian born jazz pianist is sitting in the foreground, a glass of wine in hand, looking mellow as people mingle in a party setting behind him. He looks deep in thought, but contemplation is not the first thing you think about when he and his powerful bopping quartet (led by the lyrical saxophone whiz Alain Bradette) start jamming wildly on the opening cut "Blues for GB." The folks would be dancing, or at least grooving along, if this vibe continued throughout the disc. But alas, Clements — an internationally renowned jazz performer, Alberta Achievement Award winner and, last but not least, film composer — takes things low-key most of the rest of the way, beginning with the gently graceful bossa "Nuits de Paris." His melodic soliloquy title track is the epitome of sax and piano elegance, while "Old Balsam" is smooth and wistfully nostalgic. After a few more slow pieces, the most compelling track "New Horizons" pops up with a vibrant whimsy. Every time Clements is about to keep the movement going, though, he rediscovers his wonderful balladry — so the listener who appreciates candlelight might appreciate this date more than one who loves the percussive jazz style. Overall, it's kind of a mixed bag. In the future, it would be cool if Clements would do a whole album of ballads and another full set of harder bop — he's too good at both not to do more of each.