(Positone)

The Kung-Fu Masters, the latest release from tenor saxophonist Sean Nowell moving through a cacophony of sonic landscapes and moods. The Birmingham, Alabama native embraces a rich spectrum of sounds while blending them with the power of traditional horn playing. The product is fresh and modern, and experimental, and good. For the most part, the musical mood here is pedal-to-the-metal, with Nowell and his fellow brassmates finding a way peacefully co-exist with the rhythm section. The oustanding lineup here includes Brad Mason on trumpet, Michael Dease on trombone, Art Hirahara on keys, Adam Klipple on keys and organ, Marko Djordjevic and Evan Marien on bass. Nowell composed all but one of the tunes on the project, that being a fiery Jimi Hendrix that fits right into an album of tunes has every bit the kick which the project’s title implies.