The Five Minute Warning

The five Canadian musicians on this set (drummer Barry Elmes, tenor saxophonist Mike Murley, trumpeter Kevin Turcotte, guitarist Reg Schwager, and bassist Steve Wallace) are all excellent, but what lifts the CD above the average are the strong and colorful compositions of Elmes. The music is advanced post-bop jazz while being swinging, often melodic, and sometimes a little witty. "The New Shim Sham Shimmy," a tune based on a rhythm that Dizzy Gillespie (whose voice is on the final brief track) taught Elmes, is the date's high point, but each of the numbers (which include "Mouse House," "The Five Minute Warning," and "The Prosopagnosia Blues") have their memorable moments. This project is well worth checking out.