Larry Schneider, Marc Ducret, etc. - Mac Attack (1988)

'Mac Attack' is a fun and firey cut from saxophonist Larry Schneider's record 'So Easy', released in 1988 on the French Label Bleu imprint. On this record, Schneider is backed by guitarist Marc Ducret, bassist Henri Texier, drummer Daniel Humair, and vibraphonist David Friedman.

Schneider is an American player who got his start in the 1970s working with Horace Silver, Billy Cobham, Pete Escovedo, Bill Evans, and many others. Aside from 'So Easy' and another LP-only release called 'Milanka' (released in 1987 on Timeless), the bulk of his output is comprised of a solid series of standard-heavy releases on Steeplechase, many of which find him playing alongside players like pianist Andy Laverne, bassist Steve LaSpina, drummers like Billy Drummond, Matt Wilson, Anton Fig, etc... In addition to leading a whole heap of these sessions (some of which hilariously straightforward titles like 'Jazz' or 'Just Cole Porter' and invariably carry forth Steeplechase's hilariously-utilitarian approach to album design), he's also played on a couple of Steeplechase's 'Jam Session' volumes, one of which has him in a front-line with Chris Potter and Rick Margitza.

Getting back to the matter at hand, the earlier 'So Easy' record seems a very commercial affair, being largely comprised of cuts that are very pop-friendly in both tone and composition. Songs like Schneider's 'Crystals', 'F. Bus', and the final track 'So Easy' could sit comfortably in any number of late 1980s movie/TV soundtracks or perhaps in a smooth-jazz radio rotation. In addition, the record has two cover songs, one of which is Suzanne Vega's 'Tom's Diner', a track which can't NOT remind me of several annoying commercials that song's been used for since. I normally stay far away from these sorts of records, but was interested in checking it out because I loved hearing Schneider and Ducret play side-by-side on the latter's record 'Le Kodo', also on Label Bleu and released a year later. For me, that Ducret record ends up standing head and shoulders above 'So Easy' simply because Ducret is a much more interesting and unique composer (I probably should have known what to expect, since Schneider's one composition on Ducret's album, a cut called 'Soft Leg', is probably that record's safest tune). Despite the limitations of some of the compositions, however, one can hear that Schneider, above all else, is a smashingly good saxophonist, capable of playing with tasteful lyricism or shredding his ass off.

That latter tendency gets let out of the bag in 'Mac Attack', one of the two up-tempo tracks from the album but the only track on the record that lets the hard bop out of the bag ('F. Bus' is the other, a brisk straight-eighths opener that sticks with the light fusion-y harmonies, reminding me of something like Pat Metheny's 'San Lorenzo' or later Weather Report). 'Mac Attack' starts with Humair and Schneider riffing together and, after rocking out some blues-scales, settles into the piece's no-frills head. After that, we get treated to excellent solos by Schneider and Ducret, all the while backed by energetic and solid accompaniment by Humair, Friedman, and Texier.

If it wasn't obvious from everything said above, I would hesitate to reccommend digging up a copy of this old record, unless you're interested in pop-inflected jazz records or some sort of completist for one of the record's players. I would wholeheartedly reccommend checking out Ducret and Schneider on Ducret's 'Le Kodo', which has them playing in quartet with bassist Michel Benita and the wonderful drummer Adam Nussbaum and tackling much more exciting material. As well, I would reccommend people check out pretty much any of Schneider's records on Steeplechase, as they do much more to display his excellent saxophone playing. I've not yet heard it, but I'm intrigued by a session he did for that label called 'Ornettology', which has him leading a quartet through an all-Coleman set. Other recent playing of his (on both tenor and soprano sax) can be checked out here:

   • A MAN WHO DARES TO WASTE-Larry Schnei...  

As well, some of his work with Bill Evans can be heard at:
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