Eric Alexander (tenor sax); Doug Weiss (double bass); Johnathan Blake (drums).
(Review by Chris)
The last of my “Three Tenors” recent releases to review - another chordless sax trio - this time from
three top players from NYC, the latest of 40+ albums led by Eric
Alexander. This one is a bit of a departure, where Alexander’s usual
“burnished” post-bop style is pushed into a freer direction.
The pianoless trio is a tough act to pull off, and there is direct
comparison to be had here with my last listening, the UK sax trio led by ToriFreestone .
I have to say I found the UK outfit more to my
liking – lighter, more variety, more tuneful, more listenable. That’s not to
say there isn’t very fine playing here, muscular, elegant and energetic, with
superb contributions from Weiss and Blake – the drumming interludes
particularly invigorating.
Overall the sound of the trio is somewhat
austere, but there is variety to be found in the tempo and feel nonetheless. The album opens
energetically with Luquitas, with frenzied but precise flurries of tenor, with similar passionate style on Hard Blues and Frenzy, jet-propelled by Weiss and
Blake. More mellow and melodic are Corazon Perdito and Big Richard, the
latter for his late father.
Overall, probably one for the student of the tenor, and even there, Alexander is up against stiff
competition in NYC from Chris Potter, Jerry Bergonzi and Donny McCaslin!
Next up on the tenor front, Vasilis Xenopoulos on Thursday at Sage Gateshead with a far from piano-less outfit – on the contrary - Dr. Edis is on hand to bring austerity to a long-awaited end!
Chris Kilsby
Release date: May 17, Giant Step Arts
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