Pete Siers Quartet

A stalwart on the local scene, drummer Pete Siers has brought his energy, team spirit and attention to detail to big bands, Latin-jazz ensembles and small groups of various temperaments. His new recording, "Organic Roots" (PKO Records), introduces his latest band, a brawny quartet featuring tenor saxophonists Ben Jansson and Keith Kaminski on the front line and organist Duncan McMillan in the rhythm section.

The album celebrates a post-bop aesthetic and repertoire largely rooted in the progressive Blue Note LPs from the '60s, with a special nod to organist Larry Young. The quartet charges through covers of vintage tunes by Young, Woody Shaw, Joe Henderson, Jackie McLean and others with infectious enthusiasm and confidence. Though I would have preferred a few original compositions as part of the mix, it's still a pleasure to hear fresh versions of music that made so many of us fall in love with jazz in the first place.

The quartet is celebrating the release of "Organic Roots" this weekend with performances at the Detroit Institute of Arts and Kerrytown Concert House, but that's only part of the news. Toronto-based tenor saxophonist Pat LaBarbera will join the quartet as a special guest. Part of the first wave of Coltrane-influenced saxophonists, LaBarbera came to prominence with Buddy Rich in the late '60s and '70s, though it was his extensive later work with Coltrane's former drummer Elvin Jones that cemented his reputation. He's a fire breather at home in both sophisticated harmonic structures and open modal forms, and his presence promises to elevate these performances to another level of inspiration.

http://www.freep.com/article/20091022/COL17/910220331/Pete-Siers-Quartet-celebrates-new-CD - by Mark Stryker - Free Press columnist