«Sullivan and Lofsky’s interaction might remind one of the great team of Ed Bickert and Paul Desmond, but spoken with today’s modern jazz language.» Geannine Reid, All About JazzEn savoir plus, Read more…

Jazz trumpeter Joe Sullivan’s recording, “Whiskey Jack Waltz”, is a collection of nine Sullivan originals and features noted Toronto guitarist Lorne Lofsky (formerly of the Oscar Petersen Trio), and an all-Montreal rhythm section that includes André White on piano, Alec Walkington on bass and Dave Laing on drums.

The album title refers to a playful species of bird that inhabits the forests of Sullivan’s native Northern Ontario. The songs are contemporary in style but still very tuneful, as demonstrated in the beautiful ballads “Lonely Roads” and “The Good Doctor” and in the lilting jazz waltz for which the album is named. While Sullivan’s expressive trumpet voice leads the session, the band members all shine throughout. The music is fresh yet very accessible, firmly rooted in the jazz tradition of lyricism and hard swing.