Paul Wertico’s Mid East/Mid West Alliance - Impressions of a City
(Chicago Sessions) ****1/2

This album is a very interesting experiment. Paul was able to incorporate many players with variety of styles, and make it work. The players complement each other nicely. Wertico’s drums in the middle are like the mediating machine through this colorful avant-garde of sounds.

Impressions of a City is an incredibly sharp release. Having spent some time with the album, one has to admit there is a lot more hidden there than just what an initial listen may offer. There are some very complicated things going on within this album. Some on the outside and some completely buried. What makes it work so well is how they supplement each other.

Both players from Marbin make a very distinctive contribution, and their style is unmistakable. It’s like having a band within a band. But that’s one of many appealing points of the album. The harmony of the players is what makes this very orchestral. Everything happens at the right time, and yes, there are plenty of unexpected left turns.

Impressions of a City is a combination of beauty and disturbance. Musically the album is reflective of life itself in a soundtrack sort of way. It’s a record with more than one heart.

Mark Kadzielawa