All Music Guide Review "Sense of Direction" 4 out of 5 Stars!
by Ken Dryden
Trumpeter Farnell Newton, the nephew of drummer Sunny Murray, joined forces with pianist Marcus Reynolds to jointly lead what is evidently the debut recording for both musicians. Together, with bassist Ameen Saleem and drummer Jason Brown, they make up a potent post-bop group, focusing on their enticing originals, most of which were penned by Reynolds. It's surprising that Reynolds' opening track, "The Two Larrys," is in honor of two organists (the late Larry Young and Larry Goldings), but this snappy number has an infectious groove, featuring ewton's expressive trumpet and guest Tim Wilcox's full-bodied tenor sax. The pianist's "Litoral" is a dreamy bossa nova saluting Ivan Lins. The trumpeter's two compositions include "Lover's Groove," a catchy ballad with a touch of Caribbean rhythm, along with "The Bluest Eyes," a soulful groover. The one standard is an imaginative arrangement by Reynolds of "It Could Happen to You." Recommended.
Jazzscene Magazine November Interview (by Rita Rega)
NAME: Marcus Reynolds
INSTRUMENT: piano
EARLY YEARS/EDUCATION: Grew up in Salem, Oregon and started on piano in the 3rd grade. In the 8th grade I was in the jazz choir but really didn't like going to all those rehearsals. A friend told me if you switch to jazz piano you only had to rehearse once a week. So that's what motivated me to study jazz piano. Read More...
Dick Bogle's Review of "Sense of Direction"
Newton and Reynolds Record Delivers
Dick’s
Picks (5 Stars out of 5)
By
Dick Bogle, (The Skanner)
Trumpeter Farnell Newton
and pianist Marcus Reynolds fall into that category
known as talents deserving wider
recognition.
This stellar quintet release,
with the proper attention, should help them attain
their due recognition. The tracks were laid down at
pianist Randy Porter’s Heavywood studio —
and they are flawless.
Oregonian Review of "Sense of Direction" (Kyle O'Brien)
On first listen, you might think that "Sense of Direction," the debut disc from the Farnell Newton Marcus Reynolds Quintet, is a remastered recording from the post-bop 1960s. Trumpeter Newton and pianist-composer Reynolds probably wouldn't mind the comparison....
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