Featuring the formidable line-up of Tony Malaby and Chris Cheek on tenor saxophones, Andrew D'Angelo on alto saxophone, Craig Taborn on keyboards and Gerald Cleaver on drums, Deluxe is bassist Chris Lightcap's highly anticipated follow up to his critically acclaimed quartet albums. After establishing his career as a bassist with a wide range of improvisers like Joe Morris, Regina Carter, Mark Turner, Rob Brown, and Matt Wilson, Lightcap began developing music for his own groups in the late 90s. Lay-Up (2000) and Bigmouth (2003) were on many top 10 jazz radio lists and received critical praise in the New York Times, Jazztimes and Allaboutjazz. In 2005 he named the band Bigmouth and added Taborn to the group. After playing a series of jaw-dropping sold out shows in New York City over the next few years, the group went into Brooklyn Recording to record Deluxe, featuring eight of Lightcap's originals. The group has a symbiotic rapport born out of many years of collaboration in each other's bands and as cosidemen.
Malaby and Cleaver have worked with Lightcap since his earliest bandleader performances and Lightcap and Cleaver also played on Taborn's stunning 2001 release, Light Made Lighter. Malaby and Cheek have worked together for years in the Bands of Paul Motian and Charlie Haden. Lightcap's original compositions run the gamut from sonic experimentation to old-school rock and pop influences. These tunes are brought to life with incomparable beauty and passion by the group's improvisational prowess. |