"...He manipulates the tunes’ original tempos, meters, rhythms, harmonies, and/or melodies in inventive ways that...result in fresh and interesting first-class Jazz...Luer is a superb Michael Brecker-influenced tenorist. His beautiful sound is similar to Brecker’s, as are his general approach and mannerisms. And his formidable technique allows him to execute even the most challenging passages. Speaking of which, the virtuosic tenor/ guitar unison passage on Coldplay’s “Clocks” is remarkable for its accuracy...Andrew Synowiec also plays fine mainstream Jazz guitar on such tracks as Luer’s “You Should Have Known,” but solos effectively with a distorted Rock sound on the leader’s Steps Ahead-suggesting “Mind the Gap.”... Andy Langham impresses...and drummer Dan Schnelle and bassist Edwin Livingston, required to provide a variety of rhythmic and percussive backgrounds,do so with élan, including the latter’s tuneful bowed solo on Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun.

"...Los Angeles based sax player Tom Luer reworks a handful of major hits into easygoing West Coast modern jazz on Project Popular. This is light, airy music fresh from the cafes more than the nightclubs, and seemingly opposed to the darker material Luer chose to cover. Aside from his own excellent compositions, Pearl Jam's dark classic "Jeremy," Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun," and tidbits from Prince, Audioslave, and Coldplay are represented. The magic here, however, is in the skill with which the pieces are both rearranged (into light, almost happy pieces) and the skill with which the pieces are played by Luer's ensemble. Solos come only when they fit, strings dance lightly over melodic lines, and both lead and rhythm combine to find the ultimate goal -- pieces that sound simultaneously entirely new due to their lightness and arrangement styles, and entirely familiar due to their essential core."