Greg Abate (alto/tenor/baritone
saxes/flute); Tim Ray (piano); John Lockwood (bass); Mark Walker (drums).
(Review by Lance).
Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas
'Hit Man' Hearns & Floyd Mayweather Jr. were some of the boxers who won titles in four or
more divisions. All great fighters.
Now, transfer that to jazz and the
DownBeat annual polls. Greg Abate, on the strength of his JNE gig at the
Black Swan in Newcastle on Thursday night should have aced the Flute and Alto
Sax categories - this year and every year. And, after listening to Gratitude, his
latest album, he should have also been a shoo in to top the baritone and tenor
sax lists. I guess he doesn't have enough of those bells and whistles for the
contemporary jazz crowd - Sugar Greg Hit Man Abate, the peoples' champion.
Many of the numbers that were played at
the Black Swan are on the album with the added attraction of hearing Greg
transfer his prodigious technique from alto to tenor to baritone to flute and back. Recorded live at a theatre in New Bedford, MA, it's a must buy
for those who were foolish enough to miss the Newcastle gig. Just as at Newcastle, the trio behind him do the business - absolutely love it!
This is one CD I won't review and forget
about - it goes on the car stereo tomorrow and may well outlive the car!
CD of the year - no argument!
Gratitude; Bop Lives; Hazy Moon; In the
Stratosphere; Farewell Phil Woods; Serenade to a Cuckoo; Jitterbug Waltz;
Gemini; Dracula; For the Love of Life; Inner Urge.
No comments :
Post a Comment