This is the third release to come out of one very fruitful day of recording back in April 2009 with Los Angeles-based tenorman Doug Webb, bassist Stanley Clarke, drummer Gerry Gibbs and various keyboardists. With organist Larry Goldings, they put a samba spin on Mal Waldron’s “Soul Eyes,” which is underscored by Gibbs’ supple brushwork and Clarke’s unshakable upright basslines. Mahesh Balasooriya turns in a monstrous piano solo on the 22-minute “Patagonia Suite,” which has Webb stretching on soprano sax (think John Coltrane’s take on “My Favorite Things”) before switching to impassioned tenor playing midway through. Clarke and Gibbs are also prominently featured on this marathon modal romp. A mellow duet with pianist Joe Bagg on Rodgers and Hart’s “Where or When” has Webb wailing on alto before switching to tenor for a blistering duet with Gibbs on “Rizone,” à la Coltrane and Elvin Jones on “Countdown.” That heightened Trane energy is also apparent on the bluesy closer, “Apodemia,” co-penned by Webb and Clarke. JT
Originally PublishedDoug Webb: Swing Shift
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