Live In New York

The Uptown Quintet is a cooperative unit consisting of five promising up-and-coming musicians, who were captured live during a set at the New York City nightspot Smoke. Sticking almost exclusively to their own originals, the band signals that hard bop is hardly standing still, but progressing very nicely in their hands. Alto saxophonist Ian Hendrickson-Smith contributed the slinky opener, "O'Cleary's Shuffle," which showcases its composer and trumpeter Ryan Kisor. Pianist Michael "Spike" Wilner contributed the languid, bluesy "A Foolish Lament," while the Kisor wrote the laid-back "Calypso Cove." A snappy interpretation of Sonny Clark's "Blue Minor," featuring Kisor's Lee Morgan-like solo and a potent chorus by Wilner, is the only piece not composed by a member of the quintet. Bassist Barak Mori and drummer Charles Ruggiero fuel the band with their strong support. For a band that isn't working together on a regular basis, the chemistry between them is very impressive.