Customer Reviews

Heavy Hitters

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

 

 

Tough find.I lucked out and got and ebay copy sans rear insert for $15( this one up at this price is absurd).Alexander Th Great has his crack unit with mentor Harold Mabern,Pete Washington doing the bass,and Joe Farnsworth on skins.It stars with a Mabern cut in a funky Blue Note vein with "Mr.Stitt".Next Alexander pens a mid tempo "This Ones For My Love" where you get a sense of (as Longboardjazzer notes) that Alexander has gone beyond the "Hey look at how may cats I can emulate".Still on the most well known Mabern tune "Rakin and Scrapin'" you here the Blue Note stars shine through like Shorter (though tone wise I think he is much more akin to Mobley whom Lenoards Feather dubbed the Middleweight Champion compared to heavier tone cats like Sonny Rollins).The slurring and phrasing also indicate that his was a student of the great George Coleman.The cuts a a swinger.Then gears shift and he shows us his Prez-Hawkins-Webster thing on "I'll hang My Tears Out to Dry".You time shift truly and completely into the 30-40's on a uptempo version of "Slow Boat To China" that could have been right at home in Altmans KC Movie.A lesser played treat follows with Dietz and Schwartz's "If There Is Someone Lovelier Than You".Not a show stopper of immediate replay cut but again the playing hearkens back in Alexanders phrasing to something you'd hear and a Norgan LP in 1952.An Alexander original "Ether's Step" follows and it's back to a synthesis of standard and groove (again your hearing if not in tone but in dexterity Coleman).Second to last is Evans and Faith's ballad "Maybe September" where the ensemble play so tenderly you might if not shed a tear put it on your own compilation with other ballads.This is Ike Quebec tenderness were talking here.And that is saying something.Ending this lovely CD is a quasi modal stretch out penned by Mabern called "Mr.Johnson".Alexander really lay's out towards of the end and you can't help but think of late 50's Trane.Must say that though Alexander and Mabern lead the way Washington keeps the flow and pulse (he rarely misses as you probably know) and Farnsworth comes up with time signatures that are independent but not so much as to no blend in.Hear whom you might from Mr.Billy Higgins to a off time flourishes of early Tony Williams it's all in the pocket.Young Eric Alexander is not so young any more.No longer a journeyman he is hitting his stride that can and will hopefully go on for decades more.Makes me want to get the "Extra Innings" CD which I assume is same outfit.This is top notch jazz that you'll be lucky to get ahold of.Don't pay highway robbery but a pretty penny is warranted.Per uual I ask you go site of Jazz Foundation Of America.I doubt Barbara Streisand or Bruce Springsteen are going to need health assitance or means to keep roof over there head but jazz makes up less than 3% of music sales and no everyone can half fill a club or produce "Joni Letters" CD that will fly no how... (well on't wan to knock Herbie now.....I'll be respectful).But we are talking vulnerable times for those who give us so much.
Peace
Chazz