Creed Taylor Produced

One-time CTI staffer and long-time NYC sax player and composer Dave Anderson has a new album out; it’s very reflective for me. Writing so much about people that are no longer with us often makes me occasionally melancholy and sometimes even sad. Sad for people I didn’t know, for concerts I never went to, sad for all the missed opportunities. Dave’s new album, out today (May 20th, 2025), provides an ideal reset.

“In Lieu Of Flowers” is available now on bandcamp in (MP3, FLAC, AAC, Ogg Vorbus, ALAC, WAV and AIFF formats.) ^[1]https://daveandersonjazz.bandcamp.com/album/in-lieu-of-flowers. The formal album launch party is on June 4th in Brooklyn New York, where I assume Dave’s Label will also have CD versions of the album(Dave?).

In the album notes on Bandcamp, Dave says the album reflects on personal and musical inspirations, honoring jazz greats Wayne Shorter and Maria Schneider, influential educators, and loved ones who shaped his life. Released on May 20 by LABEL 1 Records, the album features Anderson on tenor and soprano saxophones alongside pianist Grant Richards, bassist Lorin Cohen, and drummer Jimmy Macbride, forming a dynamic modern jazz quartet.

The ten original compositions explore a range of styles—from energetic swingers to reflective ballads. Highlights include “One for Wayne,” paying homage to Shorter, “Thilmany,” dedicated to a childhood friend, and “Sanctuary,” a deeply personal piece inspired by Anderson’s grieving process after his mother’s passing. “Lost City” captures Anderson’s impression of St. Petersburg, while “Ghost Bikes” memorializes a fallen cyclist in his Brooklyn neighborhood. The album also celebrates Maria Schneider’s influence in “Arms of Maria” and honors jazz educator James Stellmaker with “Stell.”

With In Lieu of Flowers, Anderson channels emotion into melody, crafting music that speaks to memory, loss, and appreciation. The quartet’s nuanced interplay brings these stories to life, forging connections through the power of sound.

The album release show in on June 4th, at 7pm – ShapeShifter Lab 837 Union Street, Brooklyn, NY ^[2]https://shapeshifterlab.com/.

I note from shapeshifter’s event calendar that CTI All-stars drummer, Jeff “Tain” Watts is playting at the same venue on May 28th ^[3]https://shapeshifterplus.org/event/jeff-tain-watts-aftermask/. Maybe my problem isn’t so much dead people, but here in the shadow of the rocky mountains, the lack of live jazz performances!