Greg Abate (alto); Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (bass); Russ Morgan (drums).(Review by Lance/photo courtesy of Ken Drew).
On May 15, 1953, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charlie Mingus and Max Roach knocked out the audience at Toronto's Massey Hall. On the same evening at Chicago Stadium, Rocky Marciano knocked out Jersey Joe Walcott in 2 minutes 25 seconds for the Heavyweight Championship of the World.
On July 20, 2018, Greg Abate took even less time to knock out the Jazz Café audience and claim, in this listener's opinion, the Alto Sax Championship of the World with a solo on Yardbird Suite that was the musical equivalent of the right cross that put Walcott away in their first fight a year previous.
Absolutely stunning.
That's All, Softly as in a Morning Sunrise, Bluesette, Kenny Barron's Voyage - played at a tempo round about the speed of light and pity help anyone who hadn't fastened their safety belt - were nothing less than magnificent.
The August issue of DownBeat has Abate rated as 3rd in the Annual Critics Poll's Rising Star Alto Sax category. For a 71-year-old to be classed as a 'Rising Star' makes me wonder what he will be like when he's 81!
Until then we'll have to make do with such gems as Out of Nowhere, Half Nelson, a sumptuous version of Angel Eyes with a breathtaking cadenza, Tenor Madness (I think!) and Recorda Me.
Of course, none of the musical miracles performed would have been possible without his three worthy henchmen. ECM, not to be confused with the record label, Edis, Champion and Morgan were more than up to the task. They played out of their skulls. Give them faked American passports and they'd be headlining at Ronnie Scotts', Pizza, maybe even Birdland or Newport, RI.
Rising Stars? You betcha!
The Massey Hall concert mentioned earlier was marketed as The Quintet of the Year. Well, last night was, without a doubt, The Quartet of the Year!
More photos.
More photos.
Lance.
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