March 1999

John Swana and the Joe Magnarelli Sextet
Philly-New York Junction
Criss Cross Jazz

By Jeff Kaliss

Make dual leaders out of a pair of trumpeter/flugelhornists from two East Coast cities and you get some dense, fast, hard bop blowing, with breath-taking give and take on their original compositions, one by spirited featured saxophonist Eric Alexander, some Monk, and a surprising take on the pop hit "Lollipops and Roses." There are evocations of the old Blue Note, but with more intelligence than soul.