Press is coming in for Quirk's new releases. A couple of newies here for Leopardism.

"Five young players striking creative sparks from each other's energy, and making music that spills over with sly humour and sheer musicality."

- Katie Malloch, CBC's Jazzbeat

"The intimate rapport between Rabnett, keyboardist Ian Cox, Saxophonist Kiyoshi Elkuf, drummer Dan Gaucher, and bassist Mike Kennedy is what initially catches the ear; this is obviously a band, not some thrown together collection of sidemen.... (Rabnett 5) is a graceful and preternaturally mature sounding quintet.

- Alex Varty, Georgia Straight

"Creative opportunites & melodic group interaction are at the core of Vancouver guitarist/composer Rich Rabnett's conception. With a loose & funky heartbeat, this band of bright young improvisors has a sexy groove and laid-back appeal."

- Vancouver International Jazz Festival

CD REVIEWS - Quirk Audio

• Leopardism (Quirk Audio) Guitarist Rich Rabnett¹s quintet is a beautiful example of where modern mainstream jazz is at right now. This music swings in the classic sense, incorporating elements of Blue Note­style hard bop and Hammond-organ soul, but the Nelson-based bandleader isn¹t afraid to go further afield: his compositions sometimes stray into abstract funk or wistfully impressionistic soundscapes. And although he owes an obvious debt to Pat Metheny and John Scofield, he doesn¹t turn their innovations into easy clichés. Instead, he uses them as a springboard from which to discover his own, very user-friendly sound. On Leopardism, Rabnett gets empathetic support from his band, especially saxophonist Kiyoshi Elkuf and drummer Dan Gaucher. Elkuf seems to have an endless supply of melodic ideas, and Gaucher¹s intensely physical and often New Orleans­inflected attack ensures that every track moves forward with clear intent. Leopardism also benefits from the mixing talents of sound engineer Scott ³Scotty Hard² Harding, a former Vancouverite who¹s been a studio stalwart in Brooklyn for the past few years, most notably with Medeski Martin & Wood.

- Alex Varty, Georgia Straight Mar.13 '08

• This is a fresh, just this side of avante garde CD offering from out northern Canadian friends. Jazz guitarist/composer Rich Rabnett and his fine jazz quintet proffer us some instruction, plus his take on how original tunes should burn, and burn they do as in the case of Rabnett's deceptive & kickin' original, "Times - These Are". If you listen close, one hears the panoply of all the positive influences that make up this five cd project. This is definitely a keeper....

- George W. Carroll (www.georgecarroll.com)

• Guitarist Rich Rabnett leads this very young band through a program of original tunes. Despite his age, Rabnett has a firm grasp on the history of jazz. According - lee has the band in a Cannonball Adderly groove, while Pregnant Pause hints at John Abercrombie's Sound and Dimension. Kiyoshi Elkuf's tenor sax solo in Daydreamer has its moments, although it also has moments that stray from the main musical thrust. This group has some unpolished edges, but it's definitely a group to watch in the future."

- Marke Andrews, Vancouver Sun

• While it may sound like an unlikely combination, one can still produce something that is both musically sophisticated yet attractive to the ear. Such can be said of this five-man outfit of relative unknowns hailing from Vancouver. Both well-recorded and competently distributed, "Reclamation" is the debut release of the Rabnett 5. Led by guitarist Rich Rabnett, this band plays jazz with melodic hooks and a relaxed groove, yet makes no compromises on musical taste and integrity. In so doing, it delivers the goods with a firmly rooted group sound. Of the tracks, "Slippery" has the loose gait of an acid-jazz tune but is closer to Mingus' conception of groove and melodic line. The funky "My Share" and "Fallopian Tube" have sinewy themes and solos that take lively twists and turns, whereas the odd-metered, drums-up-front "d+d" recalls some of Dave Holland's propulsive compositions. The front-line of tenor sax and guitar is a nice timbral combination, and while their registers do overlap, they still produce contrasting colours that make up for a warm tonal effect. Aside from the leader, the group includes bassist Mike Kennedy, pianist Ian Cox, Kiyoshi Elkuf on tenor sax, and Dan Gaucher on drums. Guesting on a couple of tracks ( "Silent Partner" and "Word(s)") is trumpeter J.P. Carter, an intrepid sound explorer in that city's creative music scene and one clearly to watch for. Also worth noting, this session was recorded, mixed and mastered by Brad Turner, another local fixture best known for his work in the popular Canadian fusion quartet Metalwood. While this very listenable side may come across as being discrete and low-key, at least for some, it offers some moments of intensity and other interesting musical ones as well.

-Paul Serralheiro (La Scena Musicale)