Mark Colby: Reflections

Origin Arts
By Ric Bang • Originally published in The Davis Enterprise, 4.2.09
Buy CD: Reflections

Tenor saxman Mark Colby has played, recorded and toured with many jazz legends during the past 40 years, including Maynard Ferguson, Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry and Charlie Haden.

Although Colby isn't well known outside the Chicago area, he's a “first call” musician when name artists come to town. And while Colby has recorded only two albums under his own name, he has been heard on literally thousands of commercials in the Windy City. He also teaches, and has been a member of DePaul University's faculty since 1983.

Most of the musicians who support Colby on this release also hail from the Chicago area: Eric Hochberg (bass), Bob Rummage (drums), Mike Pinto (guitar), Bob Lark (flugelhorn) and Jeremy Kahn and Ron Perrillo, splitting the piano chores. One track also features the great Phil Woods on alto sax.

Colby wrote three of the tunes, and Woods composed another; the rest are covers of standards from popular musicians and composers.

This relaxed, lightly swinging unit is a joy. Aside from your living room, they'd fit comfortably in jazz clubs and college auditoriums; in fact, the latter venues make up a significant part of Colby's touring schedule.