Dick De Graaf Quartet - Moving Target (2007)

Dick de Graaf's Moving Target is well named, as the tenor saxophonist doesn't stick to one style during these 2006 sessions. Leading a quartet with pianist Jeroen van Vliet and bassist Guus Bakker (both of whom double on electric instruments) plus drummer Pascal Vermeer, the leader starts off very much in a post-bop setting with his potent "Cascade". Several of the leader's pieces were inspired by 20th century composer Béla Bartók, including the haunting "Stolen Dream" and the quirky swinger "Why Birds Always Sing" (the latter with de Graaf switching to soprano sax). Van Vliet's hand-muting of the piano strings in the opening to "Handiclap" gives the piece the feeling of a kalimba (African thumb piano), while this percolating composition never loses steam. The switch to electric instruments is a bit uneven, as the lively "Démasqué" works well but "Climate Change" sounds like warmed-over Weather Report from the 1970s. Still, this is a commendable outing by the veteran musician. ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG. 

Soundroots Records, SR02, 2007
Recorded 19th, 20th October & 9th November, 2006 at Tafelberg Studio Tilburg, NL 

Musicians:
Dick De Graaf - Tenor and Soprano Saxes
Jeroen van Vliet - Piano, Fender Rhodes
Guus Bakker - Acoustic and Electric Bass
Pascal Vermeer - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Cascade (6:59)
02. A Touch Of Bela (5:37)
03. Deka Deka (6:17)
04. Stolen Dream (4:23)
05. Climate Change (4:33)
06. Why Birds Always Sing (5:59)
07. Moving Target (5:32)
08. Handiclap (4:28)
09. Somsok Orkim Saleb II (5:21)
10. Démasqué (7:44) 

All compositions by Dick de Graaf 

Total Time: 56:53 

Credits:
Recording and Mixing - Bernard Jussen
Mastering Engineer - Peter Brussee
Photos and Art Design - Bernadette Leijdekkers
Liner Notes - Dick de Graaf, Rotterdam, January 2007