Back in 2000, bassist-arranger Dave Post put together an 11-piece ensemble to play the music of pianist-composer and former Blue Note A&R man Duke Pearson. The band scores direct hits on the lazy boogaloo “Mississippi Dip,” featuring a snaking slide solo by guitarist Boo Reiners; on a swinging rendition of Pearson’s best known piece, “Jeannine,” featuring a great bari solo by Jeff Hackworth; and on a lush rendition of Pearson’s moody “Cristo Redentor.” Tenor saxophonist Paul Carlon, the other principal arranger for this little-big-band, solos with bold tones and fluid ideas on “Big Bertha,” a jumping number in the tradition of the Ellington “jungle band.” “Duke’s Mixture” is a relaxed, Basie-styled blues, and “Ready Rudy,” Pearson’s ode to legendary engineer Rudy Van Gelder, is a flat-out gem.
Originally PublishedSwingadelic : The Other Duke: Tribute to Duke Pearson
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