Fear of Flying ~ Joel Spencer / Kelly Sill Quartet Featuring Chris Potter
THE JOEL SPENCER KELLY SILL QUARTET

Online Video

Jazz music community with review and forums

Joel Spencer/Kelly Sill Quartet: The Brighter Side Featuring Chris Potter and Garry Dial

Drummer Joel Spencer and bassist Kelly Sill captured the Chicago jazz audience in the '70s through their work with John Campbell and Ed Peterson. Since then they have become one of the Chicago rhythm sections of choice among visiting stars—they have played with nearly everyone in the business!

This session features their playing with saxophonist Chris Potter and pianist Garry Dial on wonderful original compositions by Potter, Dial and Sill. Overall this quartet' playing exemplifies the current state-of-the art of modern jazz. Few groups ever achieve the great balance of intellect, chops and taste that abound on this recording. There is bit of an update of the Coltrane quartet—especially when Potter plays soprano, great interplay between Sill and Spencer and most of all, daring in everyone's playing.

Each tune is a gem. Kelly Sill's "Naomi" and "Ironic Line" are worth the price of admission alone. Pianist Dial contributes half of the repertoire and plays great throughout. Potter and Spencer are two of the best in the business.

It takes great courage to record an album of originals and make a solid attempt to add to the art form, but isn't this the most important part of creating jazz or any art?—MV

Available on Jazz Alliance, PO Box 515, Concord GA, 94522, or contact Kelly Sill at 847-475-8351