Mark Osteen and Cold Spring Jazz Quartet Celebrate Familial and Cultural Roots in their new album, Next of Kin
[Photo credit: Leo Howard Lebow]
n their delightful new album, Next of Kin, Mark Osteen’s Cold Spring Jazz Quartet (CSJQ) takes listeners on a rhythm-driven journey dedicated to the band’s loved ones for inspiring the music on the album. But the definition of “loved ones” goes beyond immediate family to include all living things on the planet. From the cover art, a painting of two males walking barefoot along a pastoral trail, to the liner notes, the theme of kinship/family is unmistakable. The family concept also includes the band members, all of whom have ample time to shine in their ensemble performance as well as in their solo turns.
Osteen (saxophone and vocals), who has been a part of the Baltimore jazz scene since 1988 (and is a past president of the Baltimore Jazz Alliance), has also cultivated Loyola Maryland University as a hub for jazz education and performance. In fact, the album was recorded at the Loyola University Maryland Studio. In addition to bandmates Gary Kerner (bass) and John Mack (drums and percussion), he has added to the current lineup Charlie Etzel (former pianist for the great Ruby Glover).
The 13 tracks on the album, nine of which were written by Osteen, explore the diverse roots and influences of jazz on our collective psyche, culture, and zeitgeist, from calypso (the opening track, “Hmmmm?”) to the classic Horace Silver tune, “Tokyo Blues,” to “Jelly Roll,” an intergenerational mashup between Charles Mingus’s instrumental and Elvis Costello’s added lyrics, from the 2015 album Mingus Sings (Ku-Umba Frank Lacy & Mingus Big Band).
I was immediately taken by the lighthearted, playful, and humorous vibe expressed in many of the songs. For example, “Shakshuka” (track 3), an ode to Osteen’s wife’s favorite Middle Eastern/North African dish, is a live recording, sustained by John Mack’s powerful percussion, which features a chorus of Loyola students boisterously shouting “Shakshuka” as the hook line (similar to The Champs’ 1958 tune “Tequila”). But don’t just listen to this song; take a moment to look up the mouth-watering dish, made with egg, tomato, and spices.
Another family tribute song, “Because I Said So” (track 6), was written for Osteen’s mother. It has a soft-shoe dance vibe that reminded me of “Would You Like to Swing on a Star.” As you listen, you can imagine your own Mom sassily shaking her finger at you for some minor infraction. “Firefly” (track 4) is a sweet tribute to the animal world, capturing in music the flashing glow these light-emitting insects bring to late summer evenings.
The playful family vibe takes a romantic turn in “Strawberry Moon,” a slow, nostalgic, melodious tune that Osteen composed for his sister. Here, pianist Charlie Etzel really shines as both ensemble member and soloist.
While the album is primarily instrumental, there are three vocal performances by Osteen that call to mind classic singers from earlier musical eras. The first is the Lerner/Loewe tune, “On the Street Where You Live” (track 2), in which Osteen croons like ‘50s artist Bobby Darin. The second is the previously mentioned “Jelly Roll.” The third is Horace Silver’s “St. Vitus Dance,” in which Osteen’s phrasing and intonation reminded me of Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana”—and, yes, I mean that as a compliment!
The album closes with the Osteen composition, “Blues for Narven,” written for his late father and brother. Parts of the song were reminiscent of the opening notes of saxophonist Paul Desmond’s “Take Five,” melodically, if not rhythmically. Yet, despite the rhythmic difference, the song encapsulates the Brubeck era of modern jazz.
Released on July 19, 2024, Next of Kin is available for purchase as a download from the Cold Spring Jazz Quartet website, https://www.coldspringjazz.com and from Bandcamp, https://coldspringjazzquartet.bandcamp.com. The CD can be purchased at CSJQ shows. I highly recommend it for your listening pleasure, any time you need a taste of home and family.
–by Jackie Oldham
Jackie Oldham is a Baltimore native who writes essays, poetry, memoirs, and short stories on many topics in her blog, https://www.baltimoreblackwoman.com. She has done readings at various Baltimore venues and on radio shows. Her essays have appeared as editorials and letters in the Baltimore Sun. She retired from a career as a copy editor, trainer, and team leader for the former Waverly Press and its successors. She is also a musician who loves all kinds of music, including jazz.