Review: It’s been about five years since John Temmerman sent me a copy of his first recording titled Jazz Obsession Music on cassette. That tape spent a lot of time in my car and became a happy part of many journeys. The tenor-man from Skokie, IL has now issued a new CD and it’s a gem.

Following educational stints at Berklee, De Paul University and the University of Illinois, Temmerman left a promising business career and picked up his horns again in the early 90’s. John currently teaches clarinet and saxophone plus Jazz Theory & Performance to students at all skill levels.

This unit has been together for several years and it shows. The band is very, very tight! The Power Of Two explores funk, fusion and mainstream jazz including several Temmerman originals including my personal favorite, the contemplative Plan B. The leader’s powerful tenor is enhanced by Neal Alger’s energetic and imaginative guitar work. Hashimoto and Jones sound as if they have been playing together forever. Just listen to them on Slick Color. Wonderful interaction!

Visit the Jazz Obsession website for audio samples. You’ll enjoy this fine quartet.

Tracks : All Blues (Miles Davis); Costa del Sol (Nobuo Uematsu); The Power Of Two (Temmerman); Slam Time (Temmerman); Whispering Pines (Wayne Henderson); Nice And Easy (Spence/Bergman/Keith); T.C.B. in E (Max Bennett); Plan B (Temmerman); Slick Color (Temmerman); When The Lights Go Out (Michael S. Lawrence); Secondary Ignorance (Temmerman); Come To The Table (Temmerman).

Reviewed by: Richard Bourcier