Saxophone Summit--Gathering of Spirits

[BlueMiles]

I picked this one up pretty quickly. I'm a big Joe Lovano fan, and his work here seems like the best I've heard in awhile. I've also found myself increasingly liking the work of Michael Brecker and Dave Liebman. The three-sax lineup is pretty cool, especially with these guys. They are quite upfront about this album as representing Coltrane's influence (I recently created a thread on Trane's general influence). There are two tunes by Coltrane--"India, which begins and ends with the three leaders on flute, and the mellow "Peace on Earth" (Trane's version unknown to me)..

Anyway, this is quite an album, full of energy and inventiveness. The players seem to go really "out" much of the time, particuarly on the title (and clsoing) track. The horns blend really well, though I especially like the two tenor and one soprano combo on tracks 1-3. The crack rhythm team of Phil Markowitz, Cecil McBee, and Billy Hart are also vital to the success of this session.

I would write more, but still need to listen to the album more. Plus I'm feeling a bit brain dead today!

[Darryl G. Thomas]

I got it in the mail last night. Haven''t listened to it yet. I was kind of leary at first (the three tenor format), but it's gotten very good reviews. Also, from what I've read, Leibman stays on soprano a lot.

[BlueMiles]

Liebman is on soprano on 1-3 (plus some flute on 3--India). On cuts 4-6 he's on tenor. I'm still listening myself. I don't think I've ever heard Liebman before on tenor. He's good, though a little less distinctive than Lovano and Brecker.

Lovano doesn't seem to mind these three-tenor situations--for instance, using it on his nonet albums.

I seem to recall hearing that there will be more music from Saxophone Summit. The three men have teamed up quite a bit in live situations, which no doubt accounts for the good blends they achieve on the CD.

[BlueMiles]

What IS happening with Records Reviews anymore?

Here's a prominent new jazz album, I started the thread up nearly two days ago, so far two respones (one from myself!). And at that, here it is still near the top of the reviews sections.

Shouldn't Record Reviews be pretty much the heart of Jazz Corner?

[gnhrtg]

I certainly wouldn't mind hearing more from this band but could really have done without (this take of) Tricycle (and if I really had it my way, I would have replaced it with another blowing tune with exchanges a la Alexander the Great). Somehow, I find the blowing, also, on tunes 1-3 to be stronger with Brecker and Lovano especially shining on tracks 1 and 3, respectively. One more thing, though my memory might be playing tricks on me here, and I know this is the band's working rhythm section, but I also remember hearing little interaction between the rhythm section and the soloists - yes they play differently for each but within a solo, not much seems to happen.

[Nate Dorward]

Originally Posted by BlueMiles

What IS happening with Records Reviews anymore?

Here's a prominent new jazz album, I started the thread up nearly two days ago, so far two respones (one from myself!). And at that, here it is still near the top of the reviews sections.

Shouldn't Record Reviews be pretty much the heart of Jazz Corner?

Yeah, good question! I toss a fair bit of stuff to the forum (largely when I'm trying to arrange my thoughts in preparation for writing a formal review, but sometimes just for the hell of it) but it does seem to be kinda dead lately...

[BlueMiles]

This CD continues to grow on me. These guys certainly draw on the Coltrane influence, but if you're going to draw on another a far-back generation, you might as well go with the best and the most adventurous. Brecker gets in some fine wailing moments, and I can really see why Tyner chose to play with him a few years back, seeming to view him as one of the best Trane substitutes (of course anyone who follows the tracks of Trane can only be a substitute). Lovano sounds very good on the album, and his opening track ("Alexander the Great") is a fine boppish number that contrasts well with the rest of the album (it's also much better than Joe's original version on "Friendly Fire").

The group sounds very good together, and I think the work by the rhythm section (in support and in their solo spotlights) is quite good.

[Darryl G. Thomas]

I listened to this over the weekend. I was pleasantly surprised. I guess I feared it would be kind of incoherent, but when you think of the three men envolved my fears were unfounded. I've been an admirer of all three for so long. This is very good music.