Pretty much straight away you know Eric Alexander plays the alto just as if the American is playing the tenor! A full force gale blows. The twist to soften the sound are the strings as the shelter in the storm. A mainstreamer's mainstreamer - Alexander makes even his fellow countryman Scott Hamilton seem avant-garde - we have never been fans much more preferring more progressive players such as Chris Potter and Mark Turner. What's here is dreamy, naturalistic saxophone playing - the melody comes first, the paraphrase is carefully weighted and never goes too far away from the strict formats any given piece demands. Again pianist David Hazeltine is involved - see our earlier review of the new Louis Hayes release Exactly Right! It's far better. Also here are bassist John Webber and the swinging drummer Joe Farnsworth who is on pianist Gabriel Latchin's new album Viewpoint also released today. String arrangements are lush but not really that inspiring. For completists and Alexander diehards only. For everyone else choose hearing Alexander so fabulously with The Heavy Hitters.
Tags: