Reviews
Parsons/Lewin/Patitucci/Monder: Flip!
(Sons of Sound SSPCD014)
"…deserves some
attention… Parsons is a
convincing saxman and Monder is beginning to be
noticed as one of the best younger guitarists from
the Hall-Frisell lineage. Both get off well-turned
solos, and their unison sound on quirky lines like
the title track is delicious, but what keeps the
listener coming back is the way all four musicians
listen and react to each other. " [read
the review]
— Coda, January/February 2004
 3
stars: "Parsons'
tunes provide ample room for meaningful dialog
and interaction among the players, who make accessible
music out of challenging lines and changes." [read
the review]
— DownBeat, January 2004
"Flip!
holds an uncanny resemblance to another project of
near identical instrumentation — the
recent ScoLoHoFo date on Blue Note…. …The
title track unfolds as an up tempo cooker that
revolves on a circular thematic
riff. …technically accomplished
solos from Parsons, Monder, and Lewin.
The Tolkien-inspired "Tookish" injects
some welcome harmonic complexity through a modal
architecture and Monder's shimmering fretwork… Patitucci
spends the first half sculpting agile counterpoint
to Parsons' winding tenor lines before stretching
out for a knuckle-flexing solo flanked
by Monder's flanging accents and Lewin's pattering
brushes. As it stands, it's an exemplary
representation of four first-string jazzmen having
a friendly and self-congratulatory time in the
studio." [read
the review]
— Cadence, September
2003
3
headphones: "The Parsons/Lewin
project is very contemporary in concept.
Lewin seems to have a jazz-rock fusion approach
and the
drums work well with the tenor. All the
tracks are originals (all have quirky titles and
odd inspiration) except "East of the Sun," which
is a good place to get into what they're doing.
It's been reharmonised and re-grooved and sounds
very now. [Parsons] plays boldly and with
confidence… Patitucci
is excellent throughout. "Alone In
The Loveseat," "Lot of Our Souls," "Load
Cycle" (which has Parsons sologing sensitively
on soprano) are possibly the pick of the originals. A
grower. Worth investigating." [read
the review]
— Jazzwise,
July 2003
"…At no point does
the improvisational interplay cease, as Lewin and
Patitucci lay down the swing and Parsons and Monder
dance on top. Despite the constant motion,
however, this is no technical blowout. Parsons keeps
the melodies sweet and flowing.
…Throughout
all the players just revel in the pleasure of playing
straight-up, no-bullshit jazz. If you need
a traditional jazz fix, you'll flip over Flip!"
[read
the review]
— High Bias ,
July 2003
"On Flip!, coleaders
Andy Parsons (saxophones) and Gene Lewin (drums),
along with John Patitucci (bass) and Ben Monder
(guitar), try to map out a terrain between the fast,
smooth
undulations of groove and the jagged peaks and
valleys of traditional bop improvisation. The
middle ground they find is a laid-back groove full
of spaces
in which to exercise their homonically florid and
emotionally cool invention." [read
the review]
— JazzTimes,
July/August, 2003
"The writing is as much
the star as the band — thoughtful, clever,
but still grooving… Massive
solos, incredible drums, transcendent composition." [read
the review]
— Drum Magazine,
June/July, 2003
Grade 9/10: "This
is a welcome treat. Filled with delicious little
nooks and shrewd jams, Flip! is
a superior work of coherent modern jazz.
Any fan of the genre will appreciate its nectarous
rhythms and humid tapestry of sound." [read
the review]
— Boston Herald,
May 16, 2003
 "Parsons
displays a decidedly lyrical side in this quartet
outing,
but also loves to wander into modal territory with
twists and turns that surprise, but do not startle
on this highly listenable, smooth flowing
but unfailingly interesting CD…the
interplay offers refreshing rewards." [read
the review]
— Montreal Gazette,
April 24, 2003
"Saxophonist
Andy Parsons, drummer Gene Lewin, bassist John
Patitucci and guitarist Ben Monder groove out on Flip!."
— The Boston Globe,
April 18, 2003
 "…the
four enjoy a strong rapport through the
album.
Parsons is coming from a post-bop perspective as
a soloist/composer, and the comparisons
include Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, and Michael
Brecker (among others). Flip! is a
respectable outing that Parsons and his colleagues
can be proud
of." [read
the review]
— All Music
Guide,
April 2003
"…the
quartet keeps both feet in jazz terra firma but aspire
to make fans of non-jazz music
(read:
rock) take notice… In fact Parsons
has that Lovano tenor sound from twenty years ago.
Maybe it’s
the presence of Monder, but his saxophone
work flows with a grooving ease. The title
track sounds almost like an organ trio, warming
you to this outing…Lewin['s]… gift
lies in his frenzied dynamo attack of cymbals and
skins. Think Tony Williams sits
in with Weather Report… A
spin of this disc is quite a delight...." [read
the review]
— All About Jazz, April
2003
"What makes Flip! a winner
is its intricate solo performances and solid approach
to entertaining a jazz listening audience. This
group combines the best of straight-ahead/classic
jazz with world music themes, and an understandable
free jazz touch that gives it a unique flavor… Every
artist on this CD is topnotch, and John Patitucci
is memorable with his bass performances. Flip! is
enjoyable and should appeal to a wide range of the
jazz listening
audience. Good, solid performances highlight
this memorable collection of jazz songs.
FLIP! is fun and enjoyable listening." [read
the review]
— JazzReview.com, April
2003
"Saxophonist Andy Parsons and drummer Gene Lewin
have a formed a duo that, with the assistance of
some high-level musical guests, has now produced
three quality recordings. On Flip!, Parsons
and Lewin are joined by bassist John Patitucci and
guitarist Ben Monder, two leading lights
of the present jazz scene… the
compositions are by Parsons, and each is a gem.
Parsons… is a
rare figure among younger jazz players, being equally
gifted as an improviser and a composer.
His finely crafted, often catchy tunes bring
out the best in all the participants…." [read
the review]
— Barnes & Noble,
April 2003
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