Album Notes

Bay Area Arts & Music Magazine, October 2000 - Nick Bensen
"Max Perkoff, a resident of Mill Valley, plays traditional jazz laced with surprising twists." His expressive trombone technique searches the possibilities of the instrument, sounding at times, rather like a trumpet or a saxophone. An experienced jazz musician and teacher, Perkoff performs with Bay Area Bones, The contemporary Jazz Orchestra, The King Perkoff Band (led by cousin Ben "King" Perkoff) and The Oakland Municipal Concert Band. Off The Ground features the expert backing of The Max Perkoff Jazz Ensemble. Tom Shader on bass and David Rokeach on drums with Perkoff's father Si (a friend of jazz master Thelonious Monk on piano.

The album is adventurous but not in a late-period Coltrane or Miles free jazz way. The small ensemble setting brings the best of be-bop and cool jazz to mind while Si Perkoff's lyrical piano recalls Monk or Bay Area favorite Vince Guraldi. The tracks on Off The Ground include original numbers like "Inner Light" and "Dizzy For President" along side covers of standards by Monk, Count Basie, the Gershwins and others. "Blues March" features a nice bowed bass solo by Shader. Guest drummer Dave Black) a veteran of Duke Ellington and Charlie "Bird" Parker's groups) turns in a phenomenal performance on a cover of the exotic classic "Caravan".