Customer Reviews

Comet Ride

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having recorded mostly in a supporting role with folks like T.S. Monk and Clifford Jordan, Philly-based Williams offers a classic case of a sideman who you wish would step out as a leader more often! The tenor sax trio (w/bass and drums) format has required pretty exacting standards from those who would try it at least since the classic Sonny Rollins Village Vanguard recordings of 1957; the Williams trio more than rises to the occasion. The leader has a full, round tenor sound somewhere between Rollins and another tenor giant who honed his chops in Philly, John Coltrane, whose phrasings Williams at times approximates. (Williams also doubles on soprano like Trane.) Both sidemen -- Gary Wang, bass; Rudy Walker, drums -- are relatively little known and recorded as well but serve admirably and swing madly. After the blistering freebop of track 1, the next couple slow things down a bit (tracks 2 & 4 largely in free tempo, track 3 eventually to a medium tempo ballad), while track 5 briskly and playfully introduces Williams on soprano. But otherwise there's no choosing between tracks here and all play wonderfully.

Great playing all around, good varied program. Williams is probably the best kept secret of the tenor sax world.