Earshot Jazz                                                    Vol. 13. No. 9

"A Mirror and Focus for the Jazz Community"

Multi-instrumentalist Milo Petersen's CD, "Visiting Dignitaries", starts right out with a quick up-beat tune whose ringing drum spikes the composition with a punctuated swing.

This well-crafted recording features luminaries of Seattle's jazz community in a setting of Petersen's original compositions: Pianist Marc Seales, bassist Phil Sparks, multi-hornman Jay Thomas (heard here on trumpet), and tenor-sax standout Rick Mandyck make up The Jazz Disciples, and their professionalism is at all times apparent.  From the punctuated swing of "Blue Steele" to the darker movement of "Certain Thoughts" or the meditative, somber tone of "Throwing Roses," these compositions demonstrate a love and appreciation of the swing and bop traditions while finding new canvasses for the players to pursue their own musical concepts. 

For mainstream jazz lovers this is a great collection of our music community's brightest players belting out straight-ahead swing.  While all of the musicians are in top form, of special note is the sharp tone of Mandyck's tenor.  While he is adept at meshing with the group during the heads, helping create a remarkably coherent group sound, his voice stands on its own during his choruses.

Seales' playing also stands out, questioning, angry, and polished all at once.

Another high point is the contribution of bassist Phil Sparks. Following a powerful solo by Thomas in the middle of "Seiji and Hiroshi," Sparks puts his bow into play to add one of this disc's most original and compelling solos; with strident questioning of incredible force, Sparks builds his exploration to numerous crescendos before returning the tune to the group and a questioning head that only partially resolves the composition. The passage provides a remarkable example of the band's professionalism: its group dynamic emerges even over the strong, individual voices of which it is composed.

- Daniel Fisher