Phillip Johnston (sop/comp); Don Davis (alt); Mike Hashim (ten); Dave Sewelson (bar); Joel Forrester (pno/comp); Dave Hofstra (bs); Richard Dworkin (dms).
(Review by Lance).
The Microscopic Septet, NYC's Fave Purveyors of Swing, Roar Back into the Limelight with Manhattan Moonlight, an Album of 21st Century Tunes Dedicated to their Beloved Manhattan. So reads the album notes and, after listening to the music within, it's my Beloved Manhattan too.
It's a Broadway musical, a Mike Hammer novel, The Bowery Boys, Yankee Stadium, Birdland, Greenwich Village, the East River, and 52nd St. - most definitely 52nd St - in one glorious mix. This is Bebop and Harlem Stride, Duke and Dizzy even Coltrane and Ornette as heard by these guys in 2014.
Four saxes, blending together in perfect harmony and soloing with the panache of a Bojangles dance routine. A swinging trio lay down the foundation for the horns with co-leader/composer Forrester supplying 8 of the 12 originals and Johnston the other 4.
Sure, sometimes it's a walk on the wild side but it's also a melodic meander through Central Park.
Forrester described the band thus: "I've always considered that the Microscopic Septet presents an outward show of being a 'revival outfit'; but what we attempt to revive... never existed. A revival of the future then?"
A revival of the future - I like that and I love the album!
The Microscopic Septet - Manhattan Moonrise is available on Cuneiform Records.
Lance.
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