It’s been more than 15 years since the release of the Illicit Sextet’s debut CD, Chapter One [click here to read liner notes and reviews ], and after an absence of almost as many years, they return. Triumphantly, no doubt. Referred to as “the Cadillac of local jazz” by critic Jim Meyer, the group covered a lot of musical terrain in their day. All of the members wrote original material, and they were one of the few groups forgoing the standards at that time. Whether getting soulful, slamming some hard bop, or improvising their way to redemption, the Illicit Sextet provided a thrill that was nothing to be ashamed of. Well, the thrill is back. Steve Kenny (trumpet), Paul Harper (sax), David Roos (guitar), Chris Lomheim (piano), Tom Pieper (bass) and Nathan Norman (drums).

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