Jazz is the most egalitarian of musical art forms. Roots, race, origin, education – all take a backseat to the ability to swing…and to express one’s own vision, who YOU are. That being said, New Jersey’s own saxophonist Ken Fowser does exactly that with his new Posi-Tone release, Standing Tall

Fowser has assembled four like-minded others, of different ages and geographic origins, to further elevate a dozen of his original compositions. Young Vermont trumpeter Josh Bruneau plays bright lines to combine with Fowser’s light, lyrical saxophone passages. Listening to them reminds one strongly of the rapport achieved between Kenny Dorham and Joe Henderson decades ago. Milwaukee pianist Rick Germanson, Baltimore bassist Paul Gill and Louisville’s Jason Tiemann on drums, contribute masterfully to the entire affair., contributing a firm base to the front-line flights. Germanson dances especially well on the keys, as he has done often recently on albums with Louis Hayes Cannonball Legacy Band and guitarist Russell Malone.

Every selection here is extremely listenable, especially the misty “Lucid Dreaming,” the swinging title track, and the lovely “Patience and Optimism” – which we could all use more of these days. Standing Tall should be of great help.

Brian Delp

Host, Jazz After Hours

WBGO