Jazz / Post-Bop, Straight-Ahead Jazz
Eric Alexander - Sax (Tenor)
David Luke Mixing
Derek Kwan Associate Producer
George Horn Mastering
Harold Mabern Piano
Jamie Putnam Design, Art Direction
Joe Farnsworth Drums
John Abbott Photography
Katherine Miller Recording
Peter Doris Assistant Engineer
Ron Carter Bass
Ted Panken Liner Notes
Todd Barkan Producer
First off, while its title might suggest otherwise, this is not a live album; the CD takes its name from a piece by Eric Alexander's pianist, the veteran Harold Mabern. This is a fitting gesture, as Mabern is a key to this session's many pleasures and has been a mentor to Alexander during the saxophonist's steady rise to the top ranks of his art form. For this December 2002 session, Alexander offers a sustained program of fresh, creative, and advanced hard bop that unequivocally establishes him as a player who is not only fully aware of the tradition, but who is now among those most eminently qualified to develop it further. The consistent high quality of the outing is, naturally, a measure of the cohesion and communication within Alexander's crack quartet. Mabern fuels the performances with a driving, spacious melodicism. Drummer Joe Farnsworth, another Alexander regular, combines crisp precision and flawless creative instincts behind the drum kit. To the session's credit, bassist Ron Carter is not on hand as a special guest, but as a completely integrated member of the rhythm team. He combines especially well with Farnsworth, with playing that is agile, powerful, rich, and vivid. Alexander is a source of endlessly imaginative choruses. Listeners will detect some of George Coleman's incendiary sleight of hand, Wayne Shorter's sidelong phrasing, and Joe Henderson's trenchant, amiable authority in the leader's highly evolved command of the horn. They will also hear Alexander's talent for writing; the five memorable hard bop originals he presents here are destined to become modern classics. ~ Jim Todd, All Music Guide
Eric Alexander
Active Decades: '90s and '00s
Born: 1968 in Illinois
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Post-Bop, Hard Bop
A fine hard bop player who grows a bit in individuality each year, Eric Alexander grew up in the state of Washington. He initially attended Indiana University, studying classical music as an altoist. However, Alexander soon discovered jazz, switched to the tenor, and transferred to William Paterson College in New Jersey. After graduating, he moved to Chicago and soon gained important experience touring with Charles Earland while also becoming a fixture in local clubs. In 1991, Alexander placed second at the Thelonious Monk Institute's saxophone competition, finishing just behind Joshua Redman. In 1992, he relocated to New York and that year made his recording debut as a leader with a set for Criss Cross. Alexander was set to join Art Taylor's Wailers in 1995 when the drummer passed away. Influenced by Dexter Gordon and George Coleman, but gradually developing a more original sound, Alexander has also worked with Mel Rhyne, Cecil Payne, Kenny Barron, and Eddie Henderson, among others. Alexander recorded two additional sets as a leader for Criss Cross, was part of their Tenor Triangle session, and cut several heated CDs for Delmark, including one that he co-leads with veteran tenor Lin Halliday. His 11th album, Man With a Horn, was licensed for U.S. release in 1999 by Milestone, which also issued the follow-up, The First Milestone, in 2000. Since that time, Alexander has kept busy releasing a steady slew of albums including Summit Meeting in 2002, Dead Center in 2004, Temple of Olympic Zeus in 2007 and Prime Time: In Concert in 2008 among others.
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
