Saxophonist Andrew Neu’s released his fourth and latest contemporary jazz CD, Everything Happens for a Reason, in July.  It is produced by Brian Bromberg and Steve Oliver, and features Andrew with a host of talented musicians: Rick Braun, Bobby Caldwell, Jeff Lorber, and Spyro Gyra’s Tom Schuman among others.  The title song is the opening track.  One cannot underestimate the importance of the opening song on any CD; it’s the make or break song for the project.  You must get the listener interested enough so that they want to listen to the rest of the music on the CD. If you have a strong opening tune, the listener will want to continue and hear the rest of the music. If you don’t, listeners will stop right there and won’t bother to listen to the other songs.  The opening title song on this CD does the job well; it invites you in.   After hearing it, you want to listen to the rest of the music Andrew is offering up.
  
“Poolside” is a fun, upbeat track which features Steve Oliver.  It may be called “Poolside,” but it sounds like good cruising music to me.  There is a beautiful orchestral prelude leading up to “What Would I Do,” featuring the great Bobby Caldwell.  This song is reminiscent of another era.  It has a retro ‘60’s feel to it, and does a nice job of showcasing Caldwell and displaying Andrew’s versatility as an artist.  “Night of the Mojito” features Rick Braun and Jeff Lorber.  It is one of the best tunes on this album.  It pays homage to the great Eddie Harris and “Cold Duck Time.”  Andrew also gives us a rendition of “Take Five,” the Dave Brubeck classic.  Here is a song that everyone knows and everyone has played, but Andrew takes a different approach to this song and gives it a fresh update.   It almost becomes a new song.   “Dreaming of Lions” features Steve Oliver and Brian Bromberg, and is an up-tempo tune laced with an underlying chant, which could possibly remind the listener of an African chant.   “Vespa” begins with a soulful solo intro, and then breaks into a catchy Latin flair with signature Latin style keys, horns and a passion filled guitar solo.  The two native Pennsylvania talents combine when Rick Braun joins Andrew on “Bring It On.”

Overall, this CD has a lot to offer, which I think listeners will appreciate.   Andrew can play any music, any style, and it all sounds good.  If you want to define who Andrew Neu is as an artist, this is the project that will do it. If you’re a fan of his music, you will like this as much as his previous offerings.  If you’re neu (pardon the pun) to Andrew and his music, you will become a fan.