Customer Reviews

The Power Of Two

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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got a chance too hear John Temmerman's Band&Disc&I felt it covers a Nice texture of Past&Contempary Instrumentation&Tone.I prefered the Inter Play between Temmerman&His Band especially the vibe with His Drummer&Guitar Player on the Mellow tracks.my only knocks are "Slam Time" which started out with a James Brown layering&Groove but for me never took me too the Bridge.also the Crusaders Cover"Whispering Pine" didn't fully move me.I'm a Big Crusaders Fan&You gotta tap that Fusion aspect especially during there Mid 70's time period for me too feel the flow.but overall this is a Pretty Good too good Set that has nice pacing&timing&Colors.

From Ammons, Griffin and Kirk to Freeman, Schneider and Fishman, Chicago has always set the bar high for tenor men. Wisely, Temmerman doesn't try to jump over it. Employing a huge tone with a minimalist melodic approach, he turns in a generous, varied, and tasteful program of pop and jazz standards along with some original heads. His playing is somewhere in between late Lester and late Dexter in terms of his sound and deliberative, economical apporach.

In some respects, it's refreshing to hear a saxophonist who virtually eschews the altissimo register along with alternate fingerings, wobbles, shrieks and all of the other tricks that are now commonplace with most players. At the same time, at nearly 70 minutes the program inescapably invites a a certain amount of repetition. Rhythms range from walking 4/4 to latin to funk, but the same variety doesn't extend to tempos (though "Slick Color" is a welcome change of pace). Also, if the leader has an alto, soprano or flute in his arsenal, it would have been a good idea to showcase it on one or two of the selections.

The instrumentation is the same as that employed by Sonny Rollins on "The Bridge," so the textures are on the thin side, limited to the chords supplied by guitarist Alger, whose fleet lines are a nice complement to the leader's more laconic solos. Additionally, the absence of a keyboard instrument permits the listener to concentrate on one of Chicago's finest, Rusty Jones, who supplies much of the energy on the session and fills in any potential holes. The audio quality and mix are first-rate, capturing Jones' percussion better than is the case on many major labels.

Power of Two is an intriguing blend of familiar pieces with fresh arrangements and original compositions. In all of them, Temmerman's silky sax takes center stage. I have now listened to this in two ways: First, as background music. Second, I really listened to each and every flawless note.

I first was introduced to Temmerman's work when I heard him on a 24/7 cable jazz station. I really took notice then and Power of Two lived up to what I heard on TV, in mono, I might add.

Anyway, I believe that casual jazz fans and serious enthusiasts would benefit from adding Power of Two to their collections.

I got Power of Two as a gift and was not sure if I would like it. I am a diehard BeBop fan and noticed that this CD mixes up different types of jazz. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that everything melds together seamlessly and I did not once balk when I heard un-BeBop tracks. I think this was due to Temmerman's command of the sax and the highly polished interplay among the other musicians.

I look forward to Temmerman's next release.

Bottom-Line: When all is played, "The Power of Two" has a little something for both the traditionalist and the contemporary lover of Jazz.

First a confession: I am not a big fan of traditional Jazz music. My father loved the genre, probably because he grew up with it, but I am very much a child of the Smooth (Contemporary) Jazz movement that sprung up in the early `80' and continues more or less unabated today.

So it comes as a surprise that I enjoyed our own John (Saxguy) Temmerman's CD entitled, "The Power of Two" from his group John Temmerman's Jazz Obsession Quartet (2001). Before I attempted this review I listed to the CD a few times to get the mood of the music. "The Power of Two" is defiantly cast in the mold of Traditional Jazz, but with a smattering of the contemporary (and some blues as well) to keep it interesting. The album is delightful mix of the old and new; indeed Saxophone player Temmerman composed most of the songs on the CD.

John's mellow, but powerful tenor saxophone playing is backed by three seasoned band-mates: guitarist Neal Alger, bassists Steven Hashimoto, and Rusty Jones on drums. As a quartet they shine, but throughout the album each is given ample time for fly solo, as it were, and lend his own style to the mix.

"The Power of Two" plays tribute to the later great Miles Davis on the very first track All Blues, which checks in at 8:00, an almost unheard of track length outside of the classical music genre. The track flows well in this faithful interpretation of the Davis standard.

Another standout is track No. 5, Wayne Henderson's Whispering Pines, which goes a long way in showcasing the group's longevity. I particularly enjoyed Hashimoto's solo bass performance at the beginning of the track and Rusty Jones' light and melodic percussion play throughout the piece. It's not often a drum gets a change to take center stage on a song, so Jones' time in the sun is well worth the effort. Temmerman's play is strong, but not overwhelming; the group always maintains a harmonious balance giving each member his musical due.

Yet another standout is track No. 8, Slick Color. Written by Temmerman, the song begins with Temmerman's very energetic sax and gives way to Alger on the electric rhythm guitar sounding very much like George Benson without the scatting. At times the sax and guitar play wonderfully off each other harmonizing deftly with just a hint of bass in the background.

The next track When The Lights Go Out has a smoky bluesy feel to it that is hard to resist. It brings to mind a smoke filled club, a dimly lit stage, impeccably dressed women and good music to romance by.

When all is played, "The Power of Two" has a little something for both the traditionalist and the contemporary lover of Jazz. Professionally and locally produced and recorded, "The Power of Two" is what the vibrant Chicago Jazz scene is all about.