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The Stan Killian Quartet performs at the Winter Hamptons Jazz Fest Holiday Concert. The band will perform music from “Brooklyn Calling” as well as holiday favorites.
Stan Killian – tenor saxophone
Sean Fitzpatrick – piano
Will Slater – bass
E.J. Strickland – drums
It is with great pleasure that I share All About Jazz’s review of Brooklyn Calling, my latest quartet release on Sunnyside Records.
“Years ago, a group of folks were having dinner at a Westside San Antonio, Texas, restaurant known as Los Barrios. Occasionally, some restaurants there would start a jazz policy. In a place better known for mariachis, this would be a pleasant surprise. One Friday evening, some kid was playing tenor sax, quite a bit of tenor sax, in fact. The guy’s name—because getting his card seemed like a good idea—was Stan Killian, not a familiar one among the roll of local notables, which made his instrumenal facility even more interesting. What was this guy doing playing here?
There have been a number of players who made the seventeen-hundred mile trek from San Antonio to New York, such as Ernie Caceres, for one. Others have, too, but Killian has stuck around, for good reason.
While the temptation to label him a Texas Tenor is understandable, that is not really fair to Killian. Apart from being able to blow with a raw edge, he does not really put a listener in mind of Arnett Cobb, Buddy Tate, or David “Fathead” Newman. In the end, he sounds very much himself, modern, less bluesy or r&b than any of the other Texans. On “Horizon,” one thinks, a taste of Sonny Rollins, but Killian’s bridge is the Brooklyn, not the Williamsburgh. Killian also plays with his band, not just backed by a rhythm section. “Shibuya Crossing,” which he dedicates to his Japanese fans, is an interactive production, not just solo tenor, and pretty as well. We get to hear plenty of both bassist Corcoran Holt and McClenty Hunter, a fine drummer who can definitely play time. “Concept of Peace” is reflective, framed by Paul Bollenback‘s spare guitar and a fine arco solo on bass which shows how far bowing on jazz bass has come since Paul Chambers. Bollenback also provides a reflective solo which strikes a delicate feeling. Killian comes roaring back on “Brooklyn Calling,” with a certain urgency which adds to the jazz-rock ambience Bollenback provides. “Open Doors,” with its shifting rhythmic feel, closes things out. All the compositions are original, by the way.
There was, of course, nothing laid back about the Texas Tenors. Maybe, in just that way, Killian does fit right on this very appealing and dynamic recording.” – By Richard J Salvucci, All About Jazz, 08/17/22
NEWS: Stan Killian, a superb tenor saxophonist in his 40’s originally from Texas who has been established in New York City for 10 years, is now reaching a world class status with this 3rd album on Sunnyside.
“Brooklyn Calling” is captivating for many reasons and Stan Killian is playing with references: The title recalls the historical BBC broadcast “London Calling” and of course the Clash, while the pictures on the album cover remind us of Sonny Rollins’ album “The Bridge” and of his iconic picture in the New York Daily News in front of the Williamsburg Bridge. But it is musically that Stan Killian and the Saxophone Colossus come together. Like Sonny Rollins, Stan Killian is rooted in tradition, with the heritage of Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young or Illinois Jacquet, and he naturally leans towards post-bop modern jazz where his other inspirations are Rollins, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson or Wayne Shorter. This album is the album of maturity. Stan Killian plays here with natural poise and confidence and in perfect symbiosis with his musicians, constantly creating to serve deep compositions, with catchy modern structures and harmonies. “For me, to play modern jazz is not about writing intellectual and difficult music just to be hip, it’s more about playing the most beautiful melodies within a space that gathers all my influences.” Almost an album of protest! – Les Chocs, 08/17/22
I am pleased to share StereoGum‘s great review of Brooklyn Calling, my latest quartet release on Sunnyside Records.
“Saxophonist Stan Killian is originally from Texas, and you can hear a little of the Texas blues in his playing, but he’s a longtime New Yorker with a hard-bitten hard bop style perfect for the city’s dark, crowded jazz bars. On this, his third album for Sunnyside, he’s backed by guitarist Paul Bollenbeck and a rhythm section he’s used before, bassist Corcoran Holt and drummer McClenty Hunter. Those two guys, who worked together brilliantly on Hunter’s 2018 album The Groove Hunter, are fantastic here, keeping the swing light and airy while being ready and willing to drop atomic bombs as needed. On “Buy Back,” the whole band is burning from start to finish. The title refers to a Covid-era policy where if you bought two drinks, the bar would buy you a third, and the band plays like they’re exactly three drinks in — loose, energized almost to the point of recklessness, but still very much in control and (mostly) focused.” – StereoGum, 07/01/22