Gifts and Givers

Jimmy Greene (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 18, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Criss Cross
• ASIN: B000TLUFFK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,237 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two Great Tenors!, November 13, 2009

By 

Jonathan Guarriello (Rutherfordton NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Gifts and Givers (Audio CD)

Here are my thoughts on Jimmy Greene's Gifts & Givers. I really think that Greene is one of the best saxophonists of this younger generation of jazz musicians which includes Chris Potter, Marcus Strickland ect, you get what I mean. I also believe that Jimmy is a great composer & besides his playing which is from the Coltrane, Branford Marsalis school of thought his writing is very original & he has a knack for assembling awesome bands to play his music such as the group represented here on Gifts & Givers. I like to start with the band because I believe the supporting players are very important in determining the success of an album. The neat thing about this album is that the two horns here are both sax, both tenor sax! Jimmy is joined by Marcus Strickland who plays his butt off on this record, if your not familiar with Strickland's music you should do yourself a favor & check out Open Reel Deck. Mike Moreno is on guitar & lends soulful clean toned support throughout & great solos in the Metheny Pat Martino school but with a spin on those influences that is totally his own. Danny Grisset on piano in my opinion is one of the more inventive pianists of his generation lending a smooth almost Bill Evans/ McCoy Tyner touch. In the rhythm section are two of my all time favorites Reuben Rogers & Eric Harland two very active sidemen on the modern jazz scene & if you haven't heard them yet your in for a real treat, they swing with drive, groove and finesse, & at times they know how to rock out with intensity. Pay attention because much enjoyment can be had by focusing strictly on the rhythm section. The tunes are a mixture of well known standards like Blue Bossa which is done here in a grooving seven four time!, 26-2, and Sonny Stitt's Eternal Triangle. All the standards are nicely done. I really like the opener Mr. McClean obviously dedicated to Greene's teacher & mentor the great alto saxman Jackie McClean & Magnolia Triangle which balance grooving jazz & postbop sophistication. Any fans of great modern jazz & the tenor saxophone should check this one out right away. I think Jimmy Greene is an artist deserving wider recognition as well as Marcus Strickland. Both these guys write highly original compositions that combine the traditions of postbop and subtle elements of groove with an eye on the future of the music, so please check him out & find out for yourself.