4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A modern tenor giant at work, November 15, 2008
This review is from: Live at the Jazz Cave (Audio CD)
At first glance, this album may seem unremarkable: a jazz quintet featuring tenor sax and rhythm section, playing familiar standards from well-known artists such as Benny Carter, Bill Evans, Hammerstein & Kern, Ellington & Strayhorn. One could even question what can be expected of a live performance recorded at a club in Nashville, a town not generally recognized as a jazz mecca. But in fact, this is quite a remarkable performance by talented pianist Lori Mechem and her quartet, and their extraordinary guest soloist, tenor man Pete Christlieb.
Christlieb grew up at a time when great players like Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, Bob Cooper, and Gerry Mulligan were at their peak, and he obviously drew from their good example. In this well-chosen assortment of tunes, he demonstrates his many strengths: a big, powerful sound, spectacular technique, melodic ideas at any speed, and an uncanny ability to maneuver in the extreme upper range of the horn. In many ways, he reminds me of another favorite tenor man, Don Menza. Listen to Christlieb's cadenza in "We'll Be Together Again" and his inspired wailing in "The Song Is You" and you'll hear what I mean.
This CD is jazz at its most joyous, and repeated listening reveals new subtleties each time. Whether you're a saxophonist looking to get educated or simply a jazz lover who wants your ears treated right, this CD will give you over an hour of what you seek.
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