Steve Fidyk: “Battle Lines” (2020) CD Review

Steve Fidyk is a talented jazz drummer and composer who has played and recorded with a variety of artists, including the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia. He has also released a few albums as a bandleader. On his newest, Battle Lines, he is joined by Joe Magnarelli on trumpet and flugelhorn, Xavier Perez on tenor saxophone, Peter Zak on piano, and Michael Karn on bass. The album features mostly original material, written by Steve Fidyk.

He opens the album with a cover of “Ignominy,” a tune which was written by tenor saxophone player Eddie Harris and included on his 1994 release Vexatious Progressions. As you might expect, this track contains a great lead by Xavier Perez on sax, but it also contains impressive leads by both Joe Magnarelli and Peter Zak. Meanwhile that rhythm has a whole lot of movement, particularly during Peter Zak’s lead. You’d think with a title like “Ignominy,” the piece wouldn’t be as lively, fun and bright as it is. That’s followed by “Battles Lines,” the album’s title track, an original composition by Steve Fidyk, and one that moves at a great clip almost right out of the gate. At moments, it feels like it’s going to burst right out of the speakers, that it has too much energy and life to be contained within them. The bass and drums drive everything forward with an energy and joy that is nearly palpable. And if you manage to hang onto that energy for a bit, this is just the sort of thing to wipe your troubles away, mainly because your troubles won’t be able to keep up. This is a fantastic piece, and it includes a really good drum solo.

“Loopholes” is also an original composition by Steve Fidyk, opening with a good groove on bass. Soon things are loose and cool, swinging a bit, sounding like a hot day in the city when the heat somehow makes everyone friendlier and excited about nightfall, with plenty of action during the day and the promise of more to come once the sun disappears, where everyone is hip, like their conversation was written by a beat poet or a talented screenwriter, with no missteps, and with a certain sense of play. I particularly enjoy the exchanges between Joe Magnarelli and Xavier Perez, as well as that delicious rhythm. Things get a bit mellower with a cover of Dave Brubeck’s “Thank You (Dziekuje),” here written as “Thank You, Dziekuje.” It’s a beautiful piece, and Steve Fidyk does a really good job with it. Peter Zak provides some wonderful work on piano, and Xavier Perez’s lead on saxophone has a great sense of style and mood about it. Then “Bebop Operations” opens with a brief drum solo, and establishes something of a big band vibe. This track, written by Steve Fidyk, might have you soon tapping your fingers, your toes, or whatever else you have handy, for it has a great, cheerful rhythm. I am also particularly fond of Joe Magnarelli’s work here, helping to make this track one of the disc’s highlights.

When I first glanced at this album’s track list, “Bootlickers Blues” was one of the tracks I was most curious about, based on its title. Bootlickers are often in the news these days, even if they are not identified as such. It seems nearly the entire Republican Party is composed of bootlickers such as that sad sycophant Mark Meadows. But do they have the blues? Let’s hope they do this November. But of course the title has no apostrophe, so it is not that the bootlickers themselves have the blues, but that perhaps all of us have the blues because of them. Sounds right. At any rate, this is a totally cool original tune with a catchy rhythm. This one features some really nice work from Peter Zak on piano, and a lot of great drumming, making it one of my personal favorites. The band then switches gears for “Lullaby For Lori And John,” a beautiful and sweet piece, composed by Steve Fidyk in honor and memory of his parents. It is moving and engaging, particularly Joe Magnarelli’s work on flugelhorn. There is also a good lead on bass, with some gentle work on piano. The whole thing has a timeless quality, as all great romances should, right?

The bass line draws us into “Churn,” an interesting original number which has something of an exciting sound. There is an unusual kind of flow to this one, and I love the way the drum solo emerges naturally in the second half. That’s followed by a lively, joyful cover of Charlie Parker’s “Steeplechase.” This one has me smiling immediately. I love Steve Fidyk’s work on drums, and I love the motion of this track. The album’s final original composition is titled “#Social Loafing.” I know I am in the minority here, but I dislike seeing the number sign (or pound sign or hash sign) in front of words. It just looks dumb. But perhaps that is the very point here. The sign is used all the time online, and this piece is inspired by those who spend a lot of time scrolling through posts on social media, something most of us are guilty of in these days of the pandemic and social distancing and unemployment. It is an odd world, isn’t it? This track has an easygoing, somewhat relaxed pace and style, fitting for its subject. That section of drums and bass toward the end is excellent. The album concludes with a cover of “Sir John,” a tune that was composed by trumpet player Blue Mitchell, and was originally included on his 1960 LP Blue’s Moods. This rendition is kind of hopping and features great work from the entire band. There is a cool drum solo toward the end.

CD Track List

1. Ignominy
2. Battle Lines
3. Loopholes
4. Thank You, Dziekuje
5. Bebop Operations
6. Bootlickers Blues
7. Lullaby For Lori And John
8. Churn
9. Steeplechase
10. #Social Loafing
11. Sir John 

Battles Lines was released on June 26, 2020.