“LEXICON” Reviews:
Built entirely on Wojciechowski's original compositions,
the recording bristles with a spirit of invention and
harmonic daring, as well as Wojo's technical prowess
and deeply nuanced tone. From the insinuating melody
line of the title cut to the gorgeous lyricism of "Voice in
the Wilderness," from the urgency of "Pentatonic Tune"
to the experimental leanings of "Push," this music
rewards repeated hearings.
The contributions of such formidable players as pianist
Ron Perrillo, drummer Dana Hall, bassist Dennis Carroll
and guitarist Dave Miller enrich the texture of this music
and attest to the caliber of company Wojo keeps. In all, a powerhouse debut.
- Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune (9/15/09)
Detroit sax man that has played with everyone and now lives in Chicago with a day job
in high school music (good luck with that these days), the cat with the name you can’t
pronounce makes up for it by giving you a sound you won’t forget. With a Motown
flavor lurking in the grooves, he’s gone from jazz to classical with several stops in
between and he seems to always know how to hit the right notes. This is a delightfully
tasty workout that those that like to be in the know first should check out now.
-Chris Spector, Midwest Record Review (10/3/09)
Local jazz fans in the know tout tenor saxophonist John Wojciechowski as perhaps the
most underrated musician in the area. Having caught him live briefly in action, as well
as on rare recordings (see our review of the Jeff Campbell Trio - "A Declaration of
Optimism" here), I can attest to the tremendous skills of the still young artist - a veteran
of several top big bands and 1996 finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk
International Jazz Competition. That he is not more well known and more thoroughly
recorded is a bit of a mystery to me, and can only conclude that his duties playing in the
Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Rob Parton Big Band, the Chicago Yestet and Dana Hall's
SPRING, and also as a high school educator in west suburban St. Charles have taken
up much of his time and contributed to his flying under the radar. Lexicon is Wojo's first
album as leader and features top Chicago musicians like keyboardist Ron Perillo,
guitarist Dave Miller and a rhythm section of Dennis Carroll on bass and Dana Hall on
drums. With such great players as these you can imagine nothing can go wrong - and
indeed it is a solid record (recorded in 2006 and 2008) with great playing by all involved.
The combustible Hall and Carroll make a truly dynamic duo, while Perillo contributes his
usual stellar work on acoustic and electric pianos. Miller is rapidly becoming a favorite of
mine and his African-flavored exchanges with the bandleader on "Lion and the Lamb"
are a highlight. Although Wojciechowski is generous with giving ample spotlight time to
his compatriots, he himself is the star here and even treats us to some brilliant work on
soprano sax . His assured technique hints at Coltrane, but with a more measured,
melodic and less fevered approach, although he generates enough heat on "Push" and
his "Pentatonic Tune" solo to singe the edge of the CD (the rest of the band is also on
fire on the latter - one of the best burners I have heard in some time). There is so much
to hear in this wonderfully layered recording - including strong and creative
compositions and great individual and ensemble playing - that I am confident listeners
will enjoy playing it often, while absorbing the subtleties for some time to come.
www.jwojojazzl.com
Brad Walseth - www.jazzchicago.net
John Wojciechowski - LEXICON: John's tenor and soprano sax works are (quite
simply) astounding! His tone makes it that way - full-bodied and rich all the way from
opening note to closing bar. Unfortunately, this one wasn't up on AMAZON (yet?), so I
couldn't link the samples right in for you, but you can hear 4 or 5 of them on John's
listening page (whoops, I did find some downloadable/playable samples at EMUSIC our hats are off to those folks for making the links available, even tho' it does appear to
be that abominable FLASH player). He's joined by Dave Miller on guitar, Ron Perillo on
piano/Rhodes, Dennis Carroll on bass and Dana Hall on drums/cymbals; you may not
realize it until you've listened to him, but he's been on the jazz scene with lots of
players. Nine original tunes keep the energy going at full-bore, especially on
compositions like "Jazz Folk Song", my absolute favorite on the album... at about 2:50,
Perillo's excellent piano chops are joined by a scorching sax lead that you won't soon
forget, & Carroll's bass introduction provides a driving force that propels it at rocket
speed! There are all kinds of player comparisons I could make (names like Getz,
Adderley & such come to mind), but what I so much enjoy about his energy is that you
can tell everything he plays is straight from the heart... songs like "Jazz Folk Song" are
more expressive of the ancient language that music truly is than any I've heard in years!
If it's rousing drums and energy that spans the universe you crave, you'll fall in love with
"Pentatonic Tune"... this one just soars! If you're looking for an album that will become
an "instant jazz classic" - this is it!!! I rate it MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, as well
as award it the "PICK" of this issue for "best saxophone-based jazz quintet"!
"EQ" (energy quotient) rating is 4.96!
Dick Metcalf, aka Rotcod Zzaj - Improvijazzation Nation http://zzaj.freehostia.com/
My first thought when I saw the lineup on John Wojciechowski’s disc, Lexicon, was,
“Wow, this’ll be awesome!” To tell the truth, these days, even on CDs by real New York
heavyweights, it’s fairly rare that you’ll see a pool of talent this deep on one disc. So, the
question then moves from can these cats play? to can these cats play well together?
The answer is a resounding yes. Matching a fantastic and fresh saxophonist with one of
Chicago’s hottest up-and-coming jazz guitarists and then having them play with a rhythm
section so rock-solid that it’s scary is one heck of a way to ensure a fantastic first CD under
one’s name. Suffice it to say, Lexicon does not disappoint.
Things start off fairly quietly with “Title.” While many discs start off with a bang, Lexicon
eases you into its charms with a beautiful melody. The song starts off nicely enough, and Dave
Miller takes a gorgeous solo to get things moving. But when Wojciechowski takes the reins, he
kicks the tune up a whole bunch of notches, taking a pretty tune and turning it into the realm that
recalls some of Wayne Shorter’s heavier moments from his Blue Note albums in the mid sixties.
What really makes that solo stand out, though, is what Ron Perrillo does next. Most
players with Perrillo’s skill would have gone for the jugular after Wojciechowski’s solo. Perrillo
instead pulls back with a subdued and relatively simple solo that is shocking in its sparseness
and beauty.
“Jazz Folk Song” is the first song on the disc where Perrillo cuts loose, and when he
does, oh my word, does he make it count. Perrillo is one of my favorite pianists in Chicago with
good reason. He simply sounds like he was playing like a prize fighter, first sizing up his
opponent, and then as he realizes that he can beat his man, he just pummels with laser like
accuracy until he’s done. Perrillo is criminally under-recorded and I hope that someone that’s
reading this can remedy the situation soon.
“Lion and the Lamb” is interesting, not only for Wojciechowski’s fantastic playing, but
also because it’s one of the first times that I’ve heard Dave Miller really swing on a CD. On his
own, with his band Algernon or with Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls, the intentions were different and
he played his tail off. Here, as a sideman in an ensemble that is clearly a much more straightahead affair, he fits in beautifully. “Pentatonic Tune” is the most straightforward song on the CD,
and Wojciechowski, Miller and Perrillo all contribute fantastic solos to an excellent tune.
The centerpiece of the disc, however, is “Push.” Much of Lexicon does sound like it was
composed of tunes meant to be soloed over. Which, in the case of these soloists, is not at all a
bad thing! However, “Push” seems like a song that was clearly thought through from beginning
to end. It’s hardly a simple collection of solos. Everyone (but Dennis Carroll) gets to show off
here, with Perrillo on Rhodes, and Miller clearly reveling in the sounds he’s getting with help of
his pedals and his amp. Over all of the revelry, the usual suspects here deliver excellent solos,
and when Dana Hall gets his piece, he delivers a fantastic taste of why he’s so beloved in
Chicago.
Since Lexicon is only the first disc that John Wojciechowski has put out to date, I think it
goes without saying that his is a career to watch. His compositions are fantastic, his playing is
out of sight and his choice in sidemen is outstanding as well. Lexicon shows a player
comfortable in numerous settings, from pretty ballads to up-tempo swingers, and from hypnotic
vamps to the forefront of thoroughly electric jazz. I can’t wait to hear more of Mr. Wojciechowski
throughout 2010 and beyond.
––Paul Abella, Chicago Jazz Magazine