Posi-Tone Swingtet

What works for the Posi-Tone imprint? The answer to that question can be boiled down to a single sentence, where the truth is plain to see and hear: It’s a musical model based on inclusivity where collective consciousness is at the core of it all. Once again, this is smartly demonstrated on the label’s latest offering, Posi-Tone Swingtet’s “In Jazz We Trust”.

As with many projects that have come down the pike from Posi-Tone, “In Jazz We Trust” is both an extension on established parameters and a departure from previous positions. It’s an outing elevated by a one-for-all mentality, but one that stands on its own in terms of expression and personality.

This project is the first of many offerings marking a major milestone. “Believe it or not, 2025 is Posi-Tone’s 30th anniversary,” shares producer and label co-head Marc Free, “and we’ve got a series of curated records like this to mark the occasion.”

This Swingtet release finds Free working magic with one of his favored design principles. “I often feel like the creative director of a repertory theater company, assembling a wide range of musical talents in clever ways that might otherwise be underutilized,” he explains. “So this Swingtet album is much like a series of one act musical performances revolving around a central theme.”

That particular combination, as well as the name for this cooperative itself, points directly to an oft-overlooked landmark that looms large in Free’s mind —  the personnel populating the date really gives the music its true identity. Chemistry in collaborative ventures is key, and Free made sure to mix and match wisely for this date.

Free indicates a fondness for the way all of these separate musicians transform into a seamless musical instrument “crystallizing delicate moments of humanity” in their unfolding. Diego Rivera, the fast-rising tenor saxophone star who has released several projects on the label, was an obvious pick and adds his powerfully upbeat composition "Mal's Totem" to the mix. Alto Saxophonist/Flautist Patrick Cornelius, who has three leader dates of his own and numerous other appearances on the label, contributes "Le Rendez-vous Final,” while trombonist Michael Dease, whose long standing affiliation with Posi-Tone has made him a serious musical force on the label, supplements the program with two original pieces: "Simmer" and "Don't Look Behind You."  Last but certainly not least, international trumpet phenomenon Alex Sipiagin, who has had two leader releases on Posi-Tone in recent years, joins the swingtet and shines brightly with a composition of his own, "Mirror."

The three remaining members of the band, the rhythm section, who deliver the balance of the album’s material, are all names that should be familiar to followers of Posi-Tone Records. Rudy Royston is a tremendously talented and well respected drummer who not only brings his rhythmic sagacity to bear on the project but also contributes the opening composition, "Invocation." Bassist Boris Kozlov, the harmonic foundation of innumerable projects on Posi-Tone, supplies "Below The Line" to the mix. Last but not least, pianist Art Hirahara, whose deep insights and compositional qualities come through in his every gesture, jumps in to the set with "Stepped Out."

Two choice compositions from other members of the Posi-Tone family bookend the album while aligning past with present. “Free Time,” from trombonist Steve Davis, paves the way by placing the band in a swinging atmosphere ripe with intrigue. Pianist Misha Tsiganov’s “Changing Trains” concludes the album with a hard swinging showcase for everybody in the band. It serves as a sunny encore-like sendoff to this wonderful collection of performances!

Ultimately, “In Jazz We Trust” by the Posi-Tone Swingtet works well as a complete entity by remaining open and reflecting Posi-Tone’s passions for different scenarios. “People should become familiar with the idea of expecting the unexpected,” notes Free wistfully. “This is just a logical extension of all of the things we do individually, but taking it one step further collectively.”