Jazzwise (US): 01 august 2019 (review Citadelic Gent)

NYC trombonist Ray Anderson made a rare Euro-crossing, teaming up with Dutch sticksman Han Bennink. Their quartet was completed by Paul Van Kemenade (alto-saxophone) and Ernst Glerum (bass). This quartet’s set came early in the afternoon, at 1pm, pouncing with exuberance, springing alert, and operating within traditional jazz realms. Nevertheless, these restless characters made the old sound new, and the new sound old. Kemenade smeared sour alto, bending and sliding phrases, then gradually handing over to Anderson, who trotted out a glowing solo of his own, holding pristine high notes, then slithering off into an articulate commentary. There was a thin humour to the themes, frequently opening up to free stretches, as Bennink clicked and clacked with micro-detail. Heartily creative jazz, providing an endorphin rush that was to last for much of the remaining day.

All About Jazz (US): ****½

This quartet has a definite group personality, the parts adding up to make the whole. Each track, while different its particulars, works within the group’s overall sound, arguable anchored in Bennink’s unique drumming. Checking Out is, simply put, great jazz which will get you smiling while your body grooves. (Budd Kopman)

Cadence Magazine (US):

Checking Out (Kemo 016) This is a most enjoyable CD full of humor and formal looseness as might be expected from Anderson and a group of Netherlanders. Kemenade has an appealing strangulated sound, often playing short unanswered questing lines. Bennink is his usual kick around self in this tightly coordinated group. Anderson remains one of the most expressive trombonists on the scene and Glerum holds it together occasionally stepping out going counter against the whole band or one on one with another member of the band. Fans of the humor and looseness of ’60s Mingus groups should find great fun with this. The leader has been around since the ’70s and has appeared as leader and sideman on a number of records out of the Netherlands. Wonderful jazz. (Robert D.Rusch) .

The Guardian (UK): ****

Alto saxophonist Paul van Kemenade’s good-humoured jazzband sounded, on its vivacious Vortex visit, like a contemporary jazz band to its fingertips. Some of it suggested what a Charles Mingus group might have become, but there was nothing retro about this show. The great Dutch drummer Han Bennink smiling ecstatically, and sustaining a more emphatically propulsive pulse with the brushes than most drummers manage with sticks.The leader’s bop-rooted alto lines and Anderson’s remarkable repertoire of hard-blown accents, rich long sounds, swarming-bee noises and slithery elisions developing it over Glerum’s booming bass-walk. Van Kemenade’s quiveringly tender tone and delicately inviting phrasing led his own Close Enough, before an effusively Cuban groove closed the set. A similarly impish second half included a long-lined Anderson theme reminiscent of the cool-bop guru Lennie Tristano, more languorously Mingus-like hip swing and bursts of ensemble clamour as convivial as an old New Orleans band.