The JT Project - Moments of Change (2016)

The JT Project, a musical collective out of the Big Apple (NYC), brings us its 5th album here with Moments of Change, an album of energy and smooth charm. Led by multi-instrumentalist/producer Jacob Webb and saxman/flJT Project CDutist/producer Todd Schefflin, the group demonstrates that it has a solid hold on creativity in the pocket.

Lots of dance grooves and melodic seduction abound on this project. From the infectious lead track “Overdrive” to the mid-tempo, melodic and saxilicious “NW Style” to the floor-scorching “Talk About It” to the up-tempo and rather bluesy “Good Ol’ Jim” to the soft and romantic “Holding on to Love” (which sets a mean atmosphere for that tender mood, especially with the call of the flugelhorn and sax being so prominent and irresistibly right).

There is much to enjoy here as there is a good dose of eclecticism. The JT Project obviously wanted to be certain to reach out and feel the collective pulse of all jazzers and produce a project that spoke to all of them in some way, shape, or fashion. There’s soul, smooth jazz, fusion, traces of straight-ahead, and more. A little something for all of the discerning ears in jazzland. – Ronald Jackson