One of those Midwest gems who stardom eludes because of geographics, Kansas City scene veteran saxophonist-composer-arranger Ahmad Alaadeen cuts a masterful swath through seven straight-ahead tunes of his second album. Neither overpowering nor understating his tenor and soprano saxisms, he shows swinging sensitivity, fresh and fluid articulation, and skillful arranging for settings from duet to sextet. Alaadeen is a distinctive mood-painter who uses a chromatic palette to enhance to his explorations.
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