As a professor in the jazz department at Towson University and founder/teacher of the Jazz Band Masterclass program, Jeff Antoniuk has helped many aspiring musicians accomplish their goals. Combine this with his work in the Maryland Summer Jazz workshops and it’s safe to say that he’s been very influential in the lives of many jazz players. All of that knowledge, direction and inspiration shared as a teacher can be heard and felt in his latest CD releaseBrotherhood.
Jeff Antoniuk and the Jazz Update include Jeff Antoniuk on tenor/soprano sax, Tom Baldwin on bass, Wade Beach on keys and Tony Martucci on drums. This unit is a regular working band that delivers energy and excitement from the word go. It’s wonderful to listen to a group of musicians who are comfortable playing with each other but also very interested in stretching the boundaries that they collectively explore. They also seem to really love playing together and that joy comes crashing through in the music.
The opening tune “Screwball” is dedicated to Jeff’s son Aidan. The humor and energy of a six year-old is evident as Jeff weaves through the time changes effortlessly with loads of expression and humor. The title track “Brotherhood” cranks down the intensity a notch at the band settles into a solid groove accented by a great solo by Tony Martucci. “Meet Me at the Ponderosa” is a treat from beginning to end with Wade Beach taking a ear catching solo combining piano with electronics. “Waltz with the Wind” was composed by Tom Baldwin and it’s melody has been jammed in my head since I first heard it at the Maryland Summer Jazz workshop last year. Tom’s melancholy solo sets the mood leading into a great response by Jeff on soprano sax. These are just a few of the songs you will hear on Brotherhood and none of them disappoint.
Anyone who studied with Jeff knows that he often stressed the importance of listening to good music in order to grow as a musician. With Brotherhood I was given a lesson in playing with good tone, good time and feeling but I as a music lover I was entertained from start to finish. I recommended this CD highly as well as seeing Jeff and his band perform in several locations around the MD/DC/VA area.