Saxophonics
September 2006 By David Franklin
Richie Cole Meets Art Pepper: A Piece of Jazz History
Jazz Excursion
In spite of coming of age a generation apart, altoists Art Pepper and Richie Cole share the common heritage of bebop. Ironically, Cole, the younger man, reflects the influence of bop icon Charlie Parker more directly than his older associate, who adopted...
September 2006 By David Franklin
How 'Bout Now
Tapestry
For his 11th album as a leader, Denver-based tenorist Fred Hess employed the same excellent sidemen as on his previous two well-received recordings—Ken Filiano on bass, Matt Wilson on drums and Ron Miles on cornet (instead of his usual trumpet), with longtime...
September 2006 By David Franklin
Dues in Progress
Capri Records
If anyone still needs convincing that outstanding jazz players live and work in places other than on the East and West Coasts, they should check out Denver-based Keith Oxman’s latest recording. The tenorist’s sixth album for Colorado’s Capri label features...
September 2006 By David Franklin
Reflections
Distinction Records
Subtitled The Best of Collection, Reflections consists mostly of tracks from altoist/sopranoist Eric Person’s recordings released between 1993 and 2003 (unfortunately, the notes do not indicate which album a given track comes from). The CD does, however...
September 2006 By David Franklin
Down the Line
Origin Records
Tenorist David Sills, despite being in his mid-30s, could pass for a Lester Young disciple of the late 1940s or 1950s. Not that he sounds like any one Young follower in particular, as he possesses a personal tone and constructs his solos in a distinctive...
September 2006 By David Franklin
Walkin' With the Wazmo
Zoho
Walkin’ With the Wazmo is an eclectic and entertaining album by the versatile tenorist currently appearing in the house band for Late Night With Conan O’Brien. Jerry Vivino lists his passions as “Jazz and R&B” with acknowledged saxophone influences including...
September 2006 By David Franklin
About the Soul
Swing
The Houston-raised Ed Wiley Jr. was born into the Texas-tenor style made popular by such fellow Houstonians as Arnett Cobb and Illinois Jacquet. His soulful horn had graced numerous rhythm ’n’ blues bands by 1950 when he had a hit of his own with “Cry, Cry...
June 2006 By David Franklin
Monsters in the Night
Koko Jazz
The fact that the titles of Greg Abate’s tunes on Monsters in the Night reference famous horror movies or stories does not mean they are all programmatic in nature. Indeed, while “Pentagram, the Wolfman” is certainly atmospheric and features some high-register...
June 2006 By David Franklin
Hey, Look Me Over
Harry Allen straddles the divide between the swing and Four Brothers traditions of tenor playing. On the blazing Charlie Christian-Benny Goodman tune “Seven Come Eleven,” Allen blows fiercely in the tradition of, say, Illinois Jacquet. But on the uptempo...
June 2006 By David Franklin
Happy Time
CAM Jazz
Francesco Cafiso is the 16-year-old Sicilian-born alto- saxophone virtuoso who has been causing the likes of legendary altoist Phil Woods and veteran critic Ira Gitler to marvel at his astonishing abilities. On Happy Time, he once again displays the beautiful...
