Customer Reviews

Friendly Fire

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blue note records has always been known for its blowing sessions when a group of blue note artists would gather in the studio for an explosive, usually competive session that resulted in some outstanding jazz. this is right in that tradition, but with one subtle change. the feel here is conversation rather than a battle of the horns, or tonal basketball game (for those, see johnny griffin's recently reissued "blowin' session" featuring a stompin' blast between griffin and guests hank mobley & john cotrane!). on "friendly fire" the two saxes explore one another's particular language and style. for example, the opener "geo j lo" features lovano delving into osby's idiom, while "idris" sees osby adapt to lovano. the results are excellent. we get to experience a new facet for each artist all through the session, and it swings!! purely musical highlights for me were "broadway fools" and "idris." the supporting cast moves things along well, countering and balancing each solist and showing some fine solo work of their own. jason moran may be a new gem, while idris mohammed shines through as an often overlooked treasure. a good album!!

Mr. Lovano and Mr. Osby are both in top form here. They are definitely two creators in an often stagnant jazz scene. They interact very well with each other, making this a positive musical exchange rather than any kind of competition. The result: everyone wins; Lovano, Osby, the "supporting cast", and the listener.

Jazz sessions that feature two masters of an instrument playing together are just about always fun to hear, and Friendly Fire is a recording in that tradition, bringing together saxophone masters Joe Lovano (who plays tenor sax, soprano sax, and flute for this outing) and Greg Osby (alto and soprano sax), supported by Jason Moran on piano, Cameron Brown on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums. Of the nine cuts, three are by Lovano, three are by Osby, and there is one each by Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman, and Thelonious Monk, making for a varied musical program that should appeal to a wide spectrum of jazz fans. The emphasis throughout seems to be on Friendly rather than Fire, with Lovano and Osby complementing rather than confronting each other. The sound quality is OK, but not much better than that, with slightly murky bass and not enough percussive impact.