D.C.-area tenor saxophonist Bruce Swaim fronts a reliably swinging straight-ahead jazz quartet on its third outing together. Pianist Jay Cooley contributes some impressive originals in “Keep Left” and the mellow “Silent Chime.” Swaim’s robust tone and lyrical quality is showcased on his ballad “Baby,” while he burns a blue streak on his hard-boppish closer, “Four Step Shuffle.” Other highlights: a killing rendition of Horace Silver’s “Mayrah,” along with covers of Jimmy Heath’s “Sound for Sore Ears” and Rodgers and Hart’s “My Heart Stood Still,” done in uptempo swinging fashion.
Originally PublishedBruce Swaim Quartet: My Heart Stood Still
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