Sharing their passion for bebop and the music of master saxophonist Charlie “Yardbird” Parker, the ever-dynamic and vanguard jazz quartet Walking Distance present this Catskill Jazz Factory debut of their upcoming sophomore release, Freebird.
By stretching, flipping, reversing, and reorganizing Parker’s compositions, the top young players of Walking Distance (tenor sax, alto sax, double bass, and drums) have created uniquely original pieces that retain the essential spirit and energy of Parker’s masterpieces, infused with contemporary flair. Pianist Orrin Evans, a hard-charging force in the jazz world and bandleader of more than 25 albums, joins this reflection on Parker’s towering legacy. As Miles Davis once said, "You can tell the history of jazz in four words: Louis Armstrong. Charlie Parker.
“Count the young, open-spirited band Walking Distance as an impressive contender in a new crop of ensembles representing the contemporary acoustic jazz aesthetic … a creative firebrand of a band worth hearing and following.” (DownBeat Magazine)
About Walking Distance: Exploration and improvisation are the eternal hallmarks of jazz, with each new performer adding his individual stamp to the library of the genre. Bring four fiercely individual players together, and a shared musical vocabulary emerges. This is exactly the dynamic of Walking Distance, the New York collective of Caleb Curtis (alto saxophone), Kenny Pexton (tenor saxophone), Adam Coté (double bass) and Shawn Baltazor (drums).
“Distinctly New York in vibe throughout, Walking Distance has the balls to go it’s own way, fusing things that you wouldn’t expect to come together so nicely into a tapestry that works throughout.”
– Midwest Record“If any group can turn the concept of ebb and flow into a fully realized art form, it’s Walking Distance.” ★★★★
– All About Jazz