JIMMY GREENE - While Looking Up
Mack Avenue Records: MAC 1154
Jimmy Greene (soprano and tenor saxophones, flute, clarinet and bass clarinet) Aaron Goldberg (piano and Fender Rhodes electric piano) Stefon Harris (vibes and marimba) Lage Lund (guitar) Reuben Rogers (bass) Kendrick Scott (drums)
Recorded Astoria NY, March 25-27 2019.
Jimmy Greene’s stock rises with every new release and in his latest from Mack Avenue he reveals capabilities that expand on his initial reputation as a solid, dependable hard bop saxophonist, taking it to a new level of prestige as a player, bandleader and producer. To help him in realise his aims and ambitions for this set he is joined by some of the best musicians on the contemporary scene, augmenting the core rhythm section of Goldberg, Rogers and Scott with contributions from Norwegian born guitarist, Lage Lund and vibraphonist, Stefon Harris; all stars in their own right and most having worked on each other’s projects over the years. Thus, with empathy established, together they make some fine music.
Most of the tracks feature compositions by the leader and there is an entertainingly varied selection of themes ranging from the melodic and harmonic intricacies of post-bop idioms to the more straight-ahead blues and gospel influences typical of classic hard bop and often these stylistic tendencies vie for ascendancy within a single piece. Greene deploys his forces judiciously but everyone gets a piece of the action and in the animated `Always There` there is some lively interplay between all the instrumentalists with Kendrick’s technically brilliant drumming stealing the show. Elsewhere Greene double tracks on various reed instruments to add impressionistic colour then strips the sound back to bass and drums for a soulful ballad interpretation.
Alongside the originals we have some fine readings of standard fare such as the one referred to above which is a tune associated with Billie Holiday. In `Good Morning Heartache` his middle range tenor sound caresses the ballad gradually building the emotional tension, applying overtones and vibrato with finesse whilst his distinctive sweet toned soprano can be heard to advantage on the lively vamp sustained version of Cole Porter’s `So in Love`, which opens the proceedings. But the biggest re-imagining comes with his version of Whitney Houston’s disco dance tune `I Want to Dance with Somebody ‘which he transforms into a slinky, meandering ballad which he heads towards a climactic finish that invests the piece with the gravitas of an operatic aria. A truly arresting performance
It only remains for me to comment on the production which is first class in every respect giving a warm resonant sound which captures and balances the tonal qualities of all the instruments to perfection. You don’t miss a thing so take care not pass up on the opportunity to listen to what will turn out to be one of the best releases of the year.
Reviewed by Euan Dixon
Mack Avenue Records: MAC 1154
Jimmy Greene (soprano and tenor saxophones, flute, clarinet and bass clarinet) Aaron Goldberg (piano and Fender Rhodes electric piano) Stefon Harris (vibes and marimba) Lage Lund (guitar) Reuben Rogers (bass) Kendrick Scott (drums)
Recorded Astoria NY, March 25-27 2019.
Jimmy Greene’s stock rises with every new release and in his latest from Mack Avenue he reveals capabilities that expand on his initial reputation as a solid, dependable hard bop saxophonist, taking it to a new level of prestige as a player, bandleader and producer. To help him in realise his aims and ambitions for this set he is joined by some of the best musicians on the contemporary scene, augmenting the core rhythm section of Goldberg, Rogers and Scott with contributions from Norwegian born guitarist, Lage Lund and vibraphonist, Stefon Harris; all stars in their own right and most having worked on each other’s projects over the years. Thus, with empathy established, together they make some fine music.
Most of the tracks feature compositions by the leader and there is an entertainingly varied selection of themes ranging from the melodic and harmonic intricacies of post-bop idioms to the more straight-ahead blues and gospel influences typical of classic hard bop and often these stylistic tendencies vie for ascendancy within a single piece. Greene deploys his forces judiciously but everyone gets a piece of the action and in the animated `Always There` there is some lively interplay between all the instrumentalists with Kendrick’s technically brilliant drumming stealing the show. Elsewhere Greene double tracks on various reed instruments to add impressionistic colour then strips the sound back to bass and drums for a soulful ballad interpretation.
Alongside the originals we have some fine readings of standard fare such as the one referred to above which is a tune associated with Billie Holiday. In `Good Morning Heartache` his middle range tenor sound caresses the ballad gradually building the emotional tension, applying overtones and vibrato with finesse whilst his distinctive sweet toned soprano can be heard to advantage on the lively vamp sustained version of Cole Porter’s `So in Love`, which opens the proceedings. But the biggest re-imagining comes with his version of Whitney Houston’s disco dance tune `I Want to Dance with Somebody ‘which he transforms into a slinky, meandering ballad which he heads towards a climactic finish that invests the piece with the gravitas of an operatic aria. A truly arresting performance
It only remains for me to comment on the production which is first class in every respect giving a warm resonant sound which captures and balances the tonal qualities of all the instruments to perfection. You don’t miss a thing so take care not pass up on the opportunity to listen to what will turn out to be one of the best releases of the year.
Reviewed by Euan Dixon
