Review of CD - Woody Witt - by Frank Rubolino for Cadence

Witt has a strong tenor saxophone voice that he puts on display on the robust post Bop recording on [Woody Witt]. He has that large, open sound so typical of musicians who cut their musical teeth in Southeast Texas. His band is also a Houston contingent and includes pianist LoCascio, a long-standing and respected member of the Jazz community; Craig, a solid young bassist who has had substantial exposure with numerous artists; and drummer Solook, who lays down the perfect eruptive time for this style of music. Witt is also the assistant director of Jazz studies at the University of Houston, but there is nothing academic about his approach. It is all soul and emotion, and his solos ring out with authority. On “My Idea of Fun,” he switches to soprano and maintains the same forward initiative that characterizes the set.

The program features four original tunes by Witt, two by LoCascio, and two standards. There is room for tender ballads as well as those going full throttle. Witt gets very expressive on the lovely “Through the Fog,” which allows the sensitivity of the quartet to be heard. LoCascio interjects intricate phrases around the melody line, and Craig shines on his solo opportunity. LoCascio constructs all of his solos in complex steps that gradually build momentum and enthusiasm. His composition “Wood” is filled with knotty sequences, and he is a constant foil to Witt who continues the charged momentum. Witt jumps in, enthusiastically spilling off rounds of hearty solos. While the music stays inbounds, there is substantial spirit and inventiveness to make the session enjoyable. Witt and the quartet play with class to make the recording very palatable.