With a driving, rhythmic groove, the Mark Saltman / William Knowles ensemble delivers a melody rich, tasty jazz treat with their song, “Homeland.” Saltman (double bass player and song composer of this tune), Knowles (piano), and Jimmy "Junebug" Jackson (drums) create a uniquely woven, tom-heavy musical fabric. This allows vocalist Lori Williams-Chisolm to showcase and double a complex melody with saxophonist Robert Landham. The song is catchy enough to keep you listening and innovative enough to offer pleasingly unexpected musical shifts. Further, “Homeland” is memorable. I’ve been humming the melody all week long.

Williams-Chisolm’s voice is smooth and silky as she cleverly maneuvers around the scales. There really aren’t any lyrics per se in “Homeland.” Rather, Williams-Chisolm subtly and effectively uses her voice as an instrument throughout the tune. Towards the end of the song, she begins to enjoyably let loose a bit, demonstrating even greater vocal talent and control.

Though jazz is often an improvisational art form, Saltman/Knowles and company keep things relatively structured in this tune, except for the two main solos. I can appreciate their approach, as they don’t want to detract from the infectious melody. The instrumental solos in “Homeland” are great. The initial saxophone solo by Landham is phenomenal. Following his performance is a clever piano solo by Knowles. He shows some flare, but not too much to overshadow the groove. If you really want to hear Knowles tear up some piano, check out another of my favorites, “Bellport.” As for bass and drum solos in “Homeland,” those players appropriately refrain from taking the spotlight. They’re too busy laying down a solid rhythm for the tune. Though studio improvisation can create some magical moments, I can appreciate when bands keep things structured while recording in an audience-free, soundproof room. Sometimes, improvisation is best saved for live performances, where you can feed off the energy of the crowd.

Mark Saltman and William Knowles are both instrument wielding, accomplished composers. With the help of their very talented band mates and some great recording engineers, they have put together a vast collection of jazz recordings, including their latest release, It’s About the Melody, via Blue Canoe Records. “Homeland” hasn’t been released on a disc yet. However, we highly recommend you check out this tune and dive further into what Saltman/Knowles and company have to offer.

Artist Website: www.saltmanknowles.com

Reviewed By: ListenersGeneration.com


Womens radio review
Brian Ball
Saltman Knowles Quintet - "It's About The Melody" ...
Saltman Knowles Quintet - "It's About The Melody" (2007)
by Brian Ball, Music Editor

Washington D.C. has been harboring a rich and sophisticated sound that when aurally ingested, evokes the true spirit of jazz. This is exactly what the Saltman Knowles Quintet have accomplished on their newest release It's About The Melody (featuring Lori Williams) (Blue Canoe Records, 2007), bringing forth a new way to experience the tried & true sounds that gave birth to the way of life (and musical style) we know as jazz.
Playing on the underlying subconscious (and sometimes vulnerable) human attachment to melodic verse, It's About The Melody captures the listener's spirit in an interactive and heart-felt display of love by means of music.
I am still quite amazed every now and then, when I notice how different types of music seem to affect each of us in different and unique ways.

Let me give you an example:
A much deeper and gratifying element of It's About The Melody unveiled itself to me several hours after my first listen, when I had found myself humming tunes to standout songs such as "On A Pale Star" and "What About April". I've heard no less than 250,000 different songs in my life, and still on that afternoon, I was humming along to the tune in my head at that moment, while I was preparing dinner, which happened to be "On A Pale Star".
If you enjoy jazz with character, sometimes improvisational, always sincere and forever memorable, It's About The Melody is one album you can't afford to leave out of your collection.
"It was as if the neo-archaic style of writing made an instant and everlasting imprint in my brain."?Brian Ball, Music Editor

From All About Jazz
Washington, D.C.'s Saltman/Knowles Quintet (four-fifths of whom were once four-sixths of Soulservice) have staked everything on making tuneful, singable jazz. That's made clear in the liner notes of It's About the Melody. After a list of "Things we like" that includes everything from Borat to sweet potatoes to Billy Strayhorn, their dislikes contain but one entry: "Music without melodies."
Little wonder, with melodic gifts like those of bassist Mark Saltman and pianist William Knowles?who met while studying composition in college. They're as good as their word, too: It's About the Melody is stocked to capacity with beautiful, and beautifully constructed, original songs, as lovingly played as they are crafted. The music's core is the unquestionable chemistry of the Soulservice alumni (Saltman, Knowles, saxophonist Charles Langford, and drummer Mark Prince), but its active ingredient is the crisp, clear-as-a-bell voice of Lori Williams. She almost effortlessly glides?one might even say floats?through the tunes which, like all great songs, are easy to sing but almost impossible to sing well.

As if to prove the CD title's point, though, every other element in the quintet's music is downgraded to serve at the pleasure of the melodies. No complicated harmonic somersaults, for example. The changes on It's About the Melody are natural and intuitive, even on showoff-y numbers like the speedy "The Joke's On Me" and the scat-fest "Freetime." The rhythms, too, are conventional, waltzing or swinging easy, usually with a touch of bossa.

The problem, if it be one, is that de-emphasizing these components effectively dissipates them?which can make the music, dulcet though it is, rather toothless. The musicians affirm that quality. Though the ensemble is immaculate, the solos (mostly traded by Knowles and Langford) are shaky, lapsing at times into all-too-safe territory. Williams is anything but safe, but she has that Ella Fitzgerald/Jane Monheit foible of sounding so happy to sing that she can't quite sell the ballads, either teary ("Love Echoes") or introspective ("My Secret Lullaby").

Of all the flaws jazz can have, however, joy is the hardest to complain about; the solo sins on It's About the Melody are weightier, but forgivable when committed in the service of such high-caliber tunes. Frankly, every solo on the disc could be written, and who could bring themselves to care? As long the melodies stay alive, killing them, says the Saltman/Knowles Quintet, is the single most unlikable thing there is.

Visit Saltman/Knowles Quintet on the web.
Saltman/Knowles Quintet at All About Jazz.

Soundraze Magazine Feb 08
"... their music simply swims in a sea of smooth s...
"... their music simply swims in a sea of smooth sounds" - Soundraze eMagazine

SOUNDRAZE REVIEW:

After listening to "Homeland", we can say that it is no wonder that these musicians won an award for "best international jazz song". The quality is such that their music simply swims in a sea of smooth sounds. Even for a listener who is not terribly keen on the genre, there is a groove to this song that makes your body sway as you listen. The vocals (of Lori Williams-Chisholm) are an absolutely perfect compliment to the music. The talented keys of Knowles and swing of Saltman's double bass (and the drums) kept a sideways heartbeat throughout without ever being overpowering. Often in jazz, melodies are lost in waves of new ideas... but even with the progression of sound in this song, a beautiful melody kept coming back into the picture to dance. Our final word: Mark Saltman and William Knowles know music and they know how to create great music.


Jazz Improv NY
QUINTET
IT'S ABOUT THE MELODY ? Blue Canoe
Recor...
QUINTET
IT'S ABOUT THE MELODY ? Blue Canoe
Records #1032. Web: www.saltmanknowles.com.

By Jim Santella
Vocalist Lori Williams and saxophonist
Charles Langford give the Saltman Knowles Quintet
a soulful lyricism that makes their program of
original songs come alive with spirit. Pianist William
Knowles, whose clarity at the keyboard gives
the session impressions of water cascading through
a virgin forest, connects all the dots with alacrity.
His co-leader, bassist Mark Saltman, drives the unit
with a strong underlying foundation and steps into
the spotlight occasionally for solo opportunities. Together,
they create a session that emphasizes articulate
melodies that ride atop the jazz sound of walking
bass, block chord piano and drum set innuendo.
Saltman and Knowles have been together for
quite some time. Their first recording was twelve
years ago. There have been other recordings; each
as personal and unique as the first. They met while
studying composition at the University of Massachusetts,
Amherst. With Saltman's melodic bass moving
eloquently and Knowles' harmonic portraits flowering
colorfully, the quintet revels in its lovely setting.
"My Secret Lullaby," "On a Pale Star" and
"Brighterdays" include some vibrant scat singing,
To Advertise CALL: 212.889.0853 September 2007 ? Jazz Improv NY? ? www.jazzimprov.com 61
while "Freetime" launches an animated vocalese adventure.
The difference is in Williams' role: as lyric
interpreter on the former three songs and as vocal
instrumentalist on the latter. The remainder of the
program places its emphasis on colorful lyrics with
stories to tell. In each of those situations, Williams
and her musical partners interpret with deep feeling.
A cohesive unit, the Saltman Knowles Quintet
reaches down deep in order to relate its heartfelt message
openly with pride.

Seoul Reviews
Saltman / Knowles - Jazz - Washington D.C.
Swingi...
Saltman / Knowles - Jazz - Washington D.C.
Swinging with Saltman and Knowles! I hear disticnt fun in the lyrics, colorful word plays actually. A bit of poetry a bit real life story. Musically this is a solid group, real nice changes, and tonal colorings. I can see these folks must really get a crowd moving to their music. Their music is Jazz. A few mixings of modern arranging and influences, but I can sense a deeper understanding of the true roots of Jazz. Excellent recording and I am sure they let it hangout more when they are in a live situation. The group is
William Knowles- Piano/composer
Mark Saltman- DoubleBass/composer
Charles Langford- Saxophones
Mark Prince/Jimmy Junebug Jackson- Drums
Lori Williams- Vocals,
Alvin Trask- Trumpet/Flugelhorn.
William Knowles on the piano has some real great voicings that just fit, and they mix so well with their vocalist. Mark Saltman on the bass is as solid as can be. He moves in and out of the timed sections very smoothly and supports everyone so well. For more information on this talented Jazz act from Washington D.C. Saltman Knowles on sonic bids personal website and Blue Canoe records .