Album Review: Reggie Quinerly — New York Nowhere

As a jazz fan, my own particular tastes tend toward music that hits a sweet spot right between old and new. I dig specific jazz forms: bop, post-bop, some fusion and some big band, primarily. All of those substyles have been with us for some years now, so new music in those categories also need to meet this criteria: it has to feel new.

Reggie Quinerly has hit the aforementioned sweet spot. New York Nowhere doesn’t sound derivative of any particular artist, but its textures and sounds fit in right alongside ‘50s and ‘60s bop. Quinerly is a drummer, though clearly his skills extend far beyond the trap set: he composed the seven pieces on New York Nowhere. Aided by Antoine Drye (trumpet), John Ellis (tenor saxophone). Pianist John Chin and upright bassist Sean Conly, Quinery creates appealing sound sculptures that indeed evoke the feel of the city that never sleeps. Tasteful yet varied, these tunes sport strong melodic lines, spot-on – but never overbearing – musicianship, and wonderful interplay.

Though the instruments are different, the musical simpatico between Drye and Ellis reminds me a great deal of Nat and Cannonball Adderley in the way they play in not-quite-unison.

The entire album is a delight, but the strongest cut is the last one: “New York Nights (Revisited)” builds on the opening track. It evokes a rainy, late-night atmosphere, the feel of an intimate yet packed-to-the limit jazz club (remember those?) and a band with unspoken, seemingly effortless communication among its players.