Jazz is all about exploration and improvisation. Each performer adds his own stamp to the repertoire. A shared musical vocabulary can emerge when four musicians who are fiercely independent work together. Walking Distance is an example of this dynamic. It consists of Caleb Curtis, Kenny Pexton (tenor and alto saxophones), Shawn Baltazor(drums), and Adam Cote (double basses). Neighborhood is the debut album by the band. It’s a heartfelt and visceral celebration of home and belonging no matter where you live. The sound and concept of two saxophonists are intertwined, often seamlessly blending with the bass and drums. The band enjoys a wide variety of possibilities, from melodic swing to grooving rock, through free bop to soulful ballads with a touch of terror-inducing chaos, to free bop. With the exception of one American Songbook classic, a radically reimagined “I Could Have Danced All Night” by My Fair Lady, all compositions on the album are original. Neighborhood was self-produced by the band. Shawn Baltazor recorded the album and Ben Rubin, a Grammy Nominated Mix Engineer, mixed it at the House of Cha Cha, New York. The music is a wild ride through the territory jazz masters call home while still being evocatively and inspiring for new listeners. This is intoxicating, powerful jazz that can be enjoyed not only for its art form, but also for communicating with the rest of the world. from www.walkingdistanceband.com
