Review by George Fendel

Review by George Fendel
Jazz Society of Oregon

Rhyme And Reason, Oleg Kireyev, tenor sax; Keith Javors, piano
According to the publicity piece accompanying this CD, Kireyev has earned high marks as one of the premier Russian saxophonists. The late Bud Shank said that Kireyev incorporates styles ranging from the 1920s through John Coltrane. There can be no doubt that Kireyev has done his homework, and it’s produced a big, full and satisfying tenor sound, sometimes a bit like a slightly more contemporary Dexter Gordon or Tubby Hayes. His co-leader on the date, pianist Javors, works seamlessly with Kireyev on six originals. Each of the selections had its own character, with widely divergent tempos. But it was easy to conclude that they all followed an uncluttered mainstream path. Nicely swinging at times, lyrical and lovely at others. The quartet is completed by the sympathetic work of Boris Kozlov, bass, and E. J. Strickland, drums. This quartet played with purpose, polish and precision. But most importantly, they still swung.

http://www.jsojazzscene.org/cdreviews.htm