All About Jazz / NY
January, 2006

Neal Caine / Backstabber's Ball
by Elliot Simon

“…Backstabber’s Ball is a coolly swingin’ twin tenor treat…Neal Caine and tenorist Ned Goold are integral parts of Harry Connieck Jr.’s Orchestra but this is a far cry from that. Instead, drummer Jason Marsalis and reedman Stephen Riley have joined with this due to present a timely take on everything from “Corporate Jazz,” complete with semi-plodding beat and air tenor, the free formish interludes of “WMD” and an intriguingly mysterious portrait of “DEA,” the chord progression not the agency. Cain is so good and so in synch with Marsalis that they draw you into the mood of most of these pieces with but a few introductory plucks and taps. The two horns can sweetly double, as on the initial tenor/alto clarinet round of “WMD”, or strike out on their own modern solo adventures. Caine is a powerful nassist and he is up in the mix but the tenors are equal to the challenge.”

[This CD was reviewed in tandem with another CD; passages not pertaining to Backstabber's Ball have been omitted.]