Shawn Maxwell Quartet

Cuatro
Chicago, IL
November 19, 2006

Story and Photos by Brad Walseth

Finally got a chance to check out the Shawn Maxwell Quartet last weekend at Cuatro. Having loved their recent recording "Originals" I looked forward to the opportunity to meet the band and hear them perform live. I am pleased to report that I had a great time and the band sounded superb!

A strong contributor to the cultural renaissance of the South Loop, Cuatro is a trendy, yet comfortable hot spot where many of the city's professionals gather for drinks and dining. I caught Shawn and his group's performance during the early dinner hour, when they were obligated to keep things light and mellow, but their presence definitely added a pleasnt ambience to the friendly atmosphere. It was quite pleasurable to sit at the bar and listen to choice cuts from "Originals" like "Dangerous Curve" and "The Sixth," as well as standards like "Days of Wine and Roses."

Bandleader Maxwell's lines are spryly smooth and flowing on sax, flute and (in a welcome surprise!) clarinet, while the rest of his band exhibits a ton of blossoming talent. Drummer Glen Schneider adds the kick and propulsion and has a tasty way with his brushes. New member, Matt Nelson seems to have fit in quite well with the group on keyboards - showing some nicely flavored chops. Meanwhile, holding down the bottom, Mike Daly comes to Chicagoland from Berklee, and his bass playing is granite solid, his solos interesting and entertaining. The original songs are fresh and appealing, and the band play together as a very cohesive unit.

Shawn and the group play in various locations around the Chicago area, and I would highly recommend you catch this rising young band. As we have told you on this website before, Maxwell and "Originals" have been placed on the Grammy ballot in 5 categories. And also, on Thursday, November 30th The Shawn Maxwell Quartet will be special guests on the "Hambone's Blues Party" radio show which airs every Thursday at 10PM Central time. Chicago area residents can hear this at WDCB 90.9 FM. It can also be found streaming on the web at www.wdcb.org.