Eric Alexander • Alexander The Great

 

Review by Michael G. Nastos
The combination of tenor saxophonist Alexander, trumpeter Jim Rotundi, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Joe Farnsworth has yielded great results, with the collective One for All and their own individual bands. Their longstanding association with organ master Charles Earland unfortunately ends with this CD, as Earland has passed away. So this is their last chance to cook with the Mighty Burner, and they do it up right. Although this is Alexander's date, all five take equal roles in this effort. They swing harder than seemingly possible for "Explosion," a muscular and virile hard-driver where horns shout over Earland's fiery solo. The steaming hot "Burner's Waltz" has an incessant bass drum throb pushing an unassailable groove and Alexander's rip-em-up tenor. The same type of bass drum pulse raises the funky "Carrot Cake." The band dips into the Benny Goodman songbook for "Soft Winds," an easy swing not readily adaptable to the organ combo, but pulled off nicely here. Earland's penchant for pop-funk is present on the Al Green evergreen "Let's Stay Together," with Alexander's pretty, sweet tenor playing the sturdy melody line, and Rotundi's trumpet inventing contrary lines as support. Chaka Khan's "Through the Fire" has all the earmarks of Earland's trademark stance, but more hollowed out. There are also two ballads. "God Bless the Child" has Bernstein leading and Alexander moving him up a notch, while Earland doubles the tempo on the bridge for roiling organ and tenor solos. Alexander's increasing maturity is evident on the low-end emphasis of the surly "Born to Be Blue." Where Earland's epitaph has been written, this posthumous coda is a reminder of how inspirational he was to younger cats. The remaining four will carry this relationship with them for a long time, and this is a perfect example that this match was made in heaven, where Earland has now returned.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/alexander-the-great-mw0000051564

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Reseña de Michael G. Nastos
La combinación del saxofonista tenor Alexander, el trompetista Jim Rotundi, el guitarrista Peter Bernstein y el baterista Joe Farnsworth ha dado grandes resultados, con el colectivo One for All y sus propias bandas individuales. Su larga asociación con el maestro del órgano Charles Earland lamentablemente termina con este CD, ya que Earland ha fallecido. Así que esta es su última oportunidad de cocinar con el Mighty Burner, y lo hacen bien. Aunque esta es la fecha de Alexander, los cinco asumen papeles iguales en este esfuerzo. Se mueven con más fuerza de lo que parece posible en "Explosion", una canción dura, musculosa y viril en la que los cuernos gritan sobre el ardiente solo de Earland. La humeante "Burner's Waltz" tiene un incesante bombo que empuja un ritmo inexpugnable y el desgarrador tenor de Alexander. El mismo tipo de pulso de bombo levanta el funky "Carrot Cake". La banda se sumerge en el cancionero de Benny Goodman para "Soft Winds", un swing fácil que no se puede adaptar fácilmente al combo de órgano, pero que aquí se logra muy bien. La inclinación de Earland por el pop-funk está presente en el tema de Al Green "Let's Stay Together", con el bonito y dulce tenor de Alexander tocando la robusta línea melódica, y la trompeta de Rotundi inventando líneas contrarias como apoyo. "Through the Fire" de Chaka Khan tiene todas las características de la postura característica de Earland, pero más hueca. También hay dos baladas. "God Bless the Child" tiene a Bernstein como líder y a Alexander subiéndolo de nivel, mientras que Earland dobla el tempo en el puente para el órgano y los solos de tenor. La creciente madurez de Alexander es evidente en el énfasis de los bajos de la hosca "Born to Be Blue". Donde se ha escrito el epitafio de Earland, esta coda póstuma es un recordatorio de lo inspirador que fue para los más jóvenes. Los cuatro restantes llevarán esta relación con ellos durante mucho tiempo, y este es un ejemplo perfecto de que esta pareja estaba hecha en el cielo, donde Earland ha regresado ahora.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/alexander-the-great-mw0000051564





 

www.ericalexanderjazz.com ...

 

 

Colaborador / Contributor:  Pere

Tracklist:
1 - Burner's Waltz - 7:29
2 - Let's Stay Together - 5:59
3 - God Bless The Child - 6:28
4 - Explosion - 8:08
5 - Through The Fire - 5:21
6 - Soft Winds - 8:10
7 - Born To Be Blue - 5:54
8 - Carrot Cake - 7:56


Credits:
    Design – Pamela Xavier
    Drums – Joe Farnsworth
    Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
    Executive-Producer – Joe Fields
    Guitar – Peter Bernstein
    Organ [Hammond B3], Producer – Charles Earland
    Tenor Saxophone – Eric Alexander
    Trumpet – James Rotondi* (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 6, 8)

Notes
Recorded May 8, 1997.
Recorded At – Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Label: HighNote Records, Inc. ‎– HCD 7013
Released: 2000
Genre: Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/Eric-Alexander-Alexander-The-Great/release/6160378

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