VASILIS XENOPOULOS - Dexterity
AVJ Productions 0006
Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor saxophone); Ross Stanley (piano); Dario Di Lecce (double bass); Steve Brown (drums)
Special guest: Quenton Collins (trumpet)
Recorded June 3rd, 2019
Xenopoulos has made quite a reputation for himself on the international jazz scene. The Greek born and Berklee education saxophonist has been working patiently at his craft and now reached a stage in his career where he must now stand or fall on his own merits. He has been working hard on his music, forming partnerships and associations that have stood the test of time and solidified into working units that can be called on to delver at the drop of a hat. Xenopoulos can also produce outstanding music whenever called upon as recent excursions have proved, along with the excellent partnership and recent album, Sidekicks, from XPQ (Vasilis Xenopoulos/Nigel Price Quartet).
For this latest release under his own name, the saxophonist retains the services of bassist Dario Di Lecce and Steve Brown on drums from XPQ with the addition of the wonderful Ross Stanley on piano; and chooses for the repertoire music that is primarily written by Dexter Gordon. Acknowledging Gordon as one of his early influences the tenorist in no way attempts to emulate his hero, but plays Dexter's music in a totally convincing manner that is at once a fitting tribute and also hard bop not of the fifties but brought right up to date and completely of the moment.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Vasilis is stepping away from a whole host of modern saxophonists who come out of college armed with a monumental technique and theoretical knowledge and little idea of how to apply this know how to make great music. How often to we hear of the next new player on the block, straight of the education system and playing ever more complex and technically demanding pattern based solos that lack any narrative or sense of coherence and construction. However, this is certainly not the case herewith Vasilis ably demonstrating that his education has merely armed him with the tools necessary to deliver music of a very high calibre indeed and able to stamp his own personality on it.
This is clearly in evidence on two wonderful outings on the more sedately paced 'Tivoli' by Dexter, and Tadd Dameron's 'If You Could See Me Now' where the saxophonist's big full sound on the tenor is reigned in, and he is allowed to luxuriate in the melody, spinning out the lines in a warm and resonant style reminiscent of the the greats. On the more uptempo numbers, this sense of the tradition of his instrument and the idiom is still able to shine through, building solos that tell their own story than just a run through of familiar patterns and learned licks.
All in all this is top notch hard bop played with authority, authenticity and conviction. The desire to communicate with the audience is clearly in the mind of all concerned, and on three numbers Xenopoulos is joined for frontline duties by the equally tasteful and sure footed Quentin Collins on trumpet, and indeed it is this quintet that kick off proceedings in a most agreeable manner with 'Dexterity', penned by the leader, a punchy theme and crisply executed solos that leaves all in no doubt about what we can expect from this enjoyable set.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
AVJ Productions 0006
Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor saxophone); Ross Stanley (piano); Dario Di Lecce (double bass); Steve Brown (drums)
Special guest: Quenton Collins (trumpet)
Recorded June 3rd, 2019
Xenopoulos has made quite a reputation for himself on the international jazz scene. The Greek born and Berklee education saxophonist has been working patiently at his craft and now reached a stage in his career where he must now stand or fall on his own merits. He has been working hard on his music, forming partnerships and associations that have stood the test of time and solidified into working units that can be called on to delver at the drop of a hat. Xenopoulos can also produce outstanding music whenever called upon as recent excursions have proved, along with the excellent partnership and recent album, Sidekicks, from XPQ (Vasilis Xenopoulos/Nigel Price Quartet).
For this latest release under his own name, the saxophonist retains the services of bassist Dario Di Lecce and Steve Brown on drums from XPQ with the addition of the wonderful Ross Stanley on piano; and chooses for the repertoire music that is primarily written by Dexter Gordon. Acknowledging Gordon as one of his early influences the tenorist in no way attempts to emulate his hero, but plays Dexter's music in a totally convincing manner that is at once a fitting tribute and also hard bop not of the fifties but brought right up to date and completely of the moment.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Vasilis is stepping away from a whole host of modern saxophonists who come out of college armed with a monumental technique and theoretical knowledge and little idea of how to apply this know how to make great music. How often to we hear of the next new player on the block, straight of the education system and playing ever more complex and technically demanding pattern based solos that lack any narrative or sense of coherence and construction. However, this is certainly not the case herewith Vasilis ably demonstrating that his education has merely armed him with the tools necessary to deliver music of a very high calibre indeed and able to stamp his own personality on it.
This is clearly in evidence on two wonderful outings on the more sedately paced 'Tivoli' by Dexter, and Tadd Dameron's 'If You Could See Me Now' where the saxophonist's big full sound on the tenor is reigned in, and he is allowed to luxuriate in the melody, spinning out the lines in a warm and resonant style reminiscent of the the greats. On the more uptempo numbers, this sense of the tradition of his instrument and the idiom is still able to shine through, building solos that tell their own story than just a run through of familiar patterns and learned licks.
All in all this is top notch hard bop played with authority, authenticity and conviction. The desire to communicate with the audience is clearly in the mind of all concerned, and on three numbers Xenopoulos is joined for frontline duties by the equally tasteful and sure footed Quentin Collins on trumpet, and indeed it is this quintet that kick off proceedings in a most agreeable manner with 'Dexterity', penned by the leader, a punchy theme and crisply executed solos that leaves all in no doubt about what we can expect from this enjoyable set.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
