Ray Blue (tenor sax); Sharp Radway (piano);
Jeff Barone (guitar) Essiet Okone Essiet (bass); Steve Johns (drums) + Kirk
Lightsey or Benito Gonzalez (piano); Ron Wilkins (trombone); Belden Bullock (bass);
Neil Clark (percussion).
(Review
by James Henry)
Once in a while, from out of nowhere,
comes a CD that is just about perfect and restores one’s faith in jazz, the
universe and just about everything else. Ray Blue’s Work is just such a gem. This is a carefully curated mix of the old
and the new, played in a swinging old school style, but with enough freshness
and surprise to keep us on our toes, and enough depth to reward a careful
listening.
Ray Blue is a New York based
saxophonist with an impressive CV as a sideman, and a few solo credits. He has
worked extensively in the USA, mainland Europe and China, but sadly doesn’t
appear to have played in the UK. His tenor playing is sweet and mellow and at
its very best in the lower register.
The title piece Work is one
of Blue’s own compositions, and is a joyful number - its rhythmic style lies
somewhere between calypso and cha-cha, and it is helped along by Neil Clark’s
percussion. Lift Every Voice and Sing is given an up beat rendition but
retains an appropriate hymn-like, gospel quality. There are ballads too: My
Friend and I Took a Walk, another Blue composition, has an ethereal
quality, and Benito Gonzalez’ gentle piano playing perfectly matches Blue’s
sweet tenor. Gonzalez and Blue continue their ballad partnership in That’s
All, with sensitive support from Essiet Okone Essiet on bass and Steve
Johns on drums. Nat Adderley’s Sweet Emma is uplifting, with a fine
trombone solo from Ron Wilkins, and tight ensemble work.
There are surprises too: Everything
Happens to Me escapes from life as a ballad and enjoys a mid-tempo quartet outing.
Don’t Know Why will tease you until you remember hearing Norah Jones
singing it everywhere a few years back. Our Day Will Come is stated
confidently and benefits from a driving up-tempo treatment.
Work is like one’s work should be-
varied and fulfilling, purposeful and enjoyable, and more than just a job. Nice
work.
James
H
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