JACKNIFE reviewed in DownBeat Magazine - August 2016 issue

“The thoughtful Bay Area reedist Steven Lugerner has already forged a career defined by sharp left turns. Although his playing is clearly rooted in jazz tradition, he’s developed a string of rigorous projects that stand in stark contrast from the one that preceded it.” 

“The quintet doesn’t try to decontextualize that material as much as it devines energy and soul from the original arrangements, letting Lugerner’s hungry, young combo feast on the themes…”

“While Lugerner plays a full complement of reeds in most of his projects, he sticks with alto here, and though he doesn’t try to emulate McLean’s tart tone, he does impart the same kind of deep blues feeling”

Peter Margasak - Downbeat Magazine