The Eric Mintel Quartet Live @ XM
author: Scott Yanow LA Jazz Scene
The Eric Mintel Quartet, comprised of the pianist-leader, Nelson Hill on alto, soprano and flute, bassist Dave Antonow and drummer Dave Mohn, has been together for a few years, and it shows. On this CD, a live radio broadcast from June 27, 2006, Mintel and his quartet put on a very musical and entertaining show. It is obvious as soon as Mintel plays a chordal solo, that Dave Brubeck is one of his main influences. Mintel does not explore polyrhythms or polytonality that extensively, so the influence is mostly felt in his chord voicings. When Mintel plays single-note lines, he sounds more individual. In any case, he swings hard throughout and pushes the other members of the quartet. Nelson Hill has attractive tones on his instruments, recalling Phil Woods a little on alto (but not when he plays firey double time lines) and Zoot Sims on soprano. With fine support offered by bassist Antonow and drummer Mohn, the group romps through a few originals plus "Take The 'A' Train" and "Gone With The Wind." The newer material is complex enough to be memorable and accessible. In addition, Mintel talks a little and is interviewed by Jackson Brady who hosts the Real Jazz show on XM radio. Eric Mintel lives in Pennsylvania and his quartet often performs in the Washington DC area. Hopefully they will appear in Los Angeles someday but in the meantime, Live @ XM (along with the group's other recordings) will have to suffice. This spirited outing is available from www.ericmintelquartet.com
Scott Yanow
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This set is exuburant....
author: Karl Stark: Philadelphia Inquirer
The Eric Mintel Quartet
Live @ XM Radio
(Ericmintelquartet.com ***)
Pianist Eric Mintel continues to develop his easy-to-take quartet with this live performance broadcast over XM satellite radio.
The 1985 Pennridge High School grad, who has played at the White House, hawked his CDs over QVC, and was featured last year on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz radio show, creates jazz that is accessible, friendly and much in the jazz-classical tradition of his idol, Dave Brubeck.
This set with the agile alto saxophonist and Maynard Ferguson alum Nelson Hill is exuberant, and rests easily within the mainstream jazz tradition. Mintel is all about pleasing and blending in. Chaos is not in the picture. He can even write originals such as "Gone With the Wind" that sound like old standards, or redo real ones like "Take the A Train" with brio.
- K.S.
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