It was only three days ago that I went down to the bookies intent on putting my shirt on The Heavy Hitters being the album of the year, 2023. Fortunately they, Ladbrokes, were closed otherwise I'd have caught a cold!
I only had to hear the first few bars of Davis' searing alto on Jimmy Heath's Gingerbread Boy to know that 2023 wouldn't be a one horse race. Alto playing that brings to mind the spirit of Parker, Stitt or Frank Morgan. Bebop plus or, as Davis prefers, neo-bop which is an accurate description incorporating, as it does, the past with the present.
That Davis can play a ballad is proven beyond doubt on These Foolish Things which could be, arguably, the definitive version. The tone, the technique and the emotion simply ooze from the bell of the horn. The angular lines, the product of a master-craftsman.
Recorded at Smalls in Greenwich Village on Feb. 17, 2022, it was no surprise that club owner Wilner was on piano and upon the evidence here no one could have slotted in better. Bassist Washington, who was also on the Heavy Hitter album, is equally at home. He and drummer Farnsworth are two thirds of Wilner's regular trio so Davis had support from a unit who thought and acted as one allowing the alto sax player to fly safe in the knowledge that it couldn't get any better than this. It is incredible - the first two releases of 2023 (Jesse Davis - Live at Smalls Jazz Club is out on Jan. 27) are both 5 star albums! Lance
Gingerbread Boy; Ceora; Cup Bearers; These Foolish Things; Juicy Lucy; Rhythm-a-ning; Street of Dreams; Love For Sale.
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