On his twelfth album as band leader, Shawn Maxwell (alto & soprano saxophones, flute) takes us back to his hometown, Joliet, Illinois. It is not a very bright and lively release, but perhaps that is because Joliet is not the brightest and most inspiring of places, as he takes us on a rather dark journey. He is joined on this quest by Collin Clauson (Rhodes), Michael Barton (bass) and Greg Essig (drums), who all played with him on his last album, ‘Story At Eleven’, and one wonders just how much of this was scored as there are plenty of times when the band seem to be moving off on their own, living and reliving the tale of the city.
When the keyboards are in the higher registers, or the saxophone is in play, we get a lightness against the dark, yet at the same time there is always the feeling of sorrow as if this is a city down on its cups, looking for a way up and out which is not forthcoming. It feels as if this is a hard place to escape from, where no-one stays willingly, at least that is what the music brings to my mind before any Joliet-loving resident says otherwise. There is an edge to this, of sadness and pain, quite different to the style one normally comes across within this genre and is that much deeper and poignant for it. The result is an album which is fascinating, yet somehow it is also very difficult to listen to due to the way the message comes across and I am not sure I would actually return to this one for pleasure.
Rating: 7/10
