Tug of War

Personnel: John Swana (trumpet, flugelhorn); Chris Potter (soprano & tenor saxophones, flute); David Hazeltine (piano); Dwayne Burno (bass); Byron Landham (drums).
Recorded at RPM Studio, New York, New York on December 17, 1997 and at Systems Two Recording Studios, Brooklyn, New York on December 14, 1998. Includes liner notes by Ted Panken.
Personnel: John Swana (trumpet, flugelhorn); Chris Potter (flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); David Hazeltine (piano); Byron Landham (drums).
Recording information: 12/17/1991-12/14/1998.
On Philadelphia-based trumpeter John Swana's sixth Criss Cross recording, the Philadelphia-based trumpeter joins forces with drummer and fellow Philadelphian Byron Landham and other musical peers -- tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, pianist David Hazeltine, and bassist Dwayne Burno -- to perform a good mixture of up-tempo swingers, medium swingers, and ballads, with seven of the nine selections written by Swana. Highlights include "Freddie" -- dedicated to Freddie Hubbard but reminiscent of Wayne Shorter's classic composition "Black Nile" -- "Vic Arpeggio," a humorous swinger named after a character on a TV comedy, the slow blues "Puss 'n Boots," and the up-tempo "Quick Fix." Tug of War exemplifies the high-quality modern mainstream jazz usually found on this Dutch label and is a welcome addition to the Swana discography. ~ Greg Turner