Dan Stein Group

This 8-track recording from the Brooklyn-based Dan Stein Group is an impressive collection of contemporary jass-shaking - oops! - I mean jazz ditties which stand up to repeated listenings. Dan Stein (piano, electric piano, organ, synths) and his Group serve up a generous helping of groove-oriented cuts which trip and dance all over the musical spectrum. There are hints and blends of jazz, funk, soul, urban, R&B and rock all over this recording and every track is served up in a challenging and boundary-defining style that in no way alienates the listener, but instead invites the listener to jam along to loose feeling and fun interplay that emanates from this disc. Sometimes this recording will even leave you wondering, “Is this jazz music!?”. Some of the influences that you can plainly hear on this recording are : Medeski, Martin and Wood, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, Parliament/Funkadelic and the Meters - so I guess, yeah, this is indeed jazz music.

Mr. Stein is an accomplished and educated performer/composer who has played all over the world with all sorts of musicians (too many to list), composed for TV & film and studied with jazz “heavies” like Paul Bley and compositional “heavies” like the noted 20th century composer George Russell. Russell’s harmonic theories have no doubt left a lasting impression on Stein because one of the bright spots on “There Goes the Neighbourhood” is that every song seems memorable and catchy after only having listened to it a couple of times. Stein draws the listeners into the tune, outlining catchy upfront melodies, but at the same time, this is great back-grounder tunes for any social event or “loosening-up” engagement. Stein enlists a stellar backing band (John Caban, Richard Hammond, Steve Logan, Nikolaz Schuhbeck & Tony Mason) and delivers a varied enough pallette of music to keep your jazz-ass shakin’ for hours on end.

L Pounds

- !earshot

An impressive eight-track album by Brooklyn based artists playing a combination jazz, R&B, soul and a touch of funk.

All songs on this album were written by Dan Stein, who plays piano, electric piano and the organ.

Stein combines compelling grooves with creative harmonies, keeping each song interesting and unique.

Drawing from George Russell’s harmonic theories, the Stein Group compels the listener to engage in every tune through-out the album.

Doesn’t Have One begins with strong lead from Stein on keyboard, as Nikolaz Schuhbeck keeps a soft back rhythm on drums and Richard Hammond accompanies on bass. Just as the listener settles into the groove, Schuhbeck comes from behind to provide a profound lead with a heavy beat.

Richard Hammond provides perfect timing on bass for John Caban’s extreme range on the electric guitar during Odd Man Out

Little Bitch has a strong combination of lead organ on several levels, with Steve Logan’s chunky bass and Tony Mason’s drums in background, keeping this tune spunky.

Each tune leads to surprise twists and turns, with an upbeat flavor, until the end with Requiem which has the perfect melodramatic timing for a proper ending.
- jazzreview.com