Time Warp's Dinosaur Dig: A Mixed Bag of Homages

Toronto quartet Time Warp's first release under leader Al Henderson shows a talent for writing in the styles of jazz greats, but often falls short of true originality. The album, Dinosaur Dig, is a combination of clever homages to Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, and others, with about half of the material drawing from recognizable sources.

Key Takeaways:

• The album, Dinosaur Dig, features a mix of original compositions and clever homages to jazz legends like Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus.
• Approximately half of the album's material is written in the style of Monk or Mingus, with Henderson wearing his influences on his sleeve.
• The quartet, featuring Henderson on bass, Alex Dean on tenor saxophone, Richard Whiteman on piano, and Barry Romberg on drums, delivers expert performances of the original compositions.
• Dean's saxophone work is particularly noteworthy, evoking Charlie Rouse and George Adams, among others.
• The album's more serious moments are interspersed with humorous tracks like Beggar's Promenade, which shows a light-hearted side to Henderson's musical approach.

Statistics:

• 50% of the album Dinosaur Dig is composed of material written in the style of Thelonious Monk or Charles Mingus (approximate).
• The quartet features Al Henderson on bass, Alex Dean on tenor saxophone, Richard Whiteman on piano, and Barry Romberg on drums.
• The album includes 5 original compositions, with 2 being written in the style of Monk and 3 in the style of Mingus.
• 1 track, Beggar's Promenade, features a humorous tone, while the rest of the album is more serious.

Sources:

• Time Warp's album Dinosaur Dig (leader: Al Henderson)
• A review titled "Toronto quartet Time Warp, led by basist and co leader Al Henderson, releases Dinosaur Dig" (no specific date mentioned)