NIA QUINTET

End of Time

2006-01-02

Thirty-year-old Chicago trumpeter Scott Anderson leads this ensemble through 11 of his own compositions in a pretty straightforward construction of alternating solos. While Anderson can obviously play the horn, it is saxo- phonist Daniel Nicholson that steals most of the show here. His solos keep a few of these cuts afloat and whenever he takes the lead (such as in the opening number), something interesting happens. Pianist Tom Vaitsas does the same on the title track. Rule one of being a band leader is to get some good musicians around you – and that our young trumpet-playing friend did. Anderson plays the piano solo on the introspective “Past, Present, Future.” The closer is a Native American sounding flute/horn duet. -MJVD