Joe Magnarelli/John Swana: New York-Philly Junction

For their second Criss Cross meeting, Joe Magnarelli and John Swana say they didn’t head into the studio attempting to make an album like Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan’s Night of the Cookers cutting session. New York-Philly Junction-not to be confused with its 1998 predecessor, Philly-New York Junction-reveals the mutual respect both trumpeters have for each other, including the hard-bop title track they wrote together. Swana’s “Giants” pays tribute in name to the New York football team, but it actually borrows from “Giant Steps,” a source that doesn’t become obvious until the end of the tune, by which point both horn men have already proven their chops. With tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander jumping in between trumpet solos and a driving rhythm section of Joel Weiskopf (piano), Peter Washington (bass) and Kenny Washington (drums), Junction deserves attention.

Originally Published March 1, 2005