Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 03/26/2002
Pianist
David Hazeltine and tenor saxophonist
Eric Alexander create sparks when working together, and the presence of bassist
Peter Washington and drummer
Louis Hayes makes their chemistry even better on this 2001 studio session.
Hazeltine's
hard bop opener,
"On the Boulevard," has the kind of attractive groove one would expect in a classic
Blue Note date from the early '60s. The leader also wrote the catchy
"Jessica's Night"; the saxophonist penned the swirling dynamo
"Haye's Phase." Alexander softens his hard-blowing tone to caress a brisk treatment of
Antonio Carlos Jobim's
"O Grande Amor," while a loping interpretation of
Stevie Wonder's
ballad "Knocks Me off My Feet" and a lush arrangement of
Jimmy Webb's
"Didn't We" demonstrate how well they handle modern
pop songs. The only standard of the date is a gem,
"East of the Sun," which is tackled at a racehorse tempo, and a first-rate take of
Tadd Dameron's
"Our Delight," a
classic jazz composition driven by
Hayes' superb percussion. This very rewarding CD is highly recommended.
~Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
;)
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