Leonard Hochman • Manhattan Morning

 

Review
by Scott Yanow  
Veteran tenor-saxophonist Leonard Hochman is actually less known than his sidemen (pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Harvie Swartz, drummer Victor Lewis and vibraphonist Joe Locke) on this CD. Hochman, who was musically active back in the 1950's before spending much of his life outside of jazz, returned to the creative music scene in the early 1990's and proved to still be in his musical prime. On his second recording as a leader, Hochman on tenor at various times hints at Stan Getz, Lester Young and Dexter Gordon while displaying a solid tone of his own. His bop-oriented bass clarinet (heard at its best dueting with bassist Swartz on "The End Of A Beautiful Friendship") is featured on half of the selections and he shows that Eric Dolphy's approach is not the only way to improvise on the underrated and colorful instrument. Other highlights include Hochman's moody "Manhattan Morning," a warm rendition (on bass clarinet) of "I Apologize" and such obscure gems as Art Pepper's "Tynan Time" and Dexter Gordon's "Cheesecake." Vibraphonist Locke's lyrical playing is an added plus on the ballads. This fine modern mainstream date is easily recommended.


Biography
by Scott Yanow
Considering how fine Leonard Hochman plays on his 1994 Brownstone CD Until Tomorrow (sounding a bit like Zoot Sims on tenor and displaying a warm tone on bass clarinet), it is surprising that this was his first album as a leader, and that he had largely stopped playing back in 1963! Born in Philadelphia, Hochman lived for a period in New York City and grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He started playing tenor when he was 11. He freelanced from the time he was 15 until he turned 24, playing in a wide variety of settings including two years in the Catskills. Among the musicians who he performed with were Kai Winding, Al Haig, Phil Woods, Kenny Clarke, Brew Moore, Charlie Barnet and Herbie Mann. In 1957 Hochman moved to Boston and spent six years as a studio musician. He recorded with Phil Wilson in the early 1960's but was still little-known when he stopped playing in 1963. Hochman worked at a band instrument rental company, eventually bought the business and became a successful businessman. After selling the company, he began to play again in the early 1990's and his improvising talents and tone had actually improved through the years. He was a major discovery when he recorded Until Tomorrow although he was already 61. Among his friends on his long-overdue debut are guitarist Mitch Seidman, Harvie Swartz and the late Alan Dawson. He made a follow-up set, Manhattan Morning in 1995 with a quintet that included Swartz and Kenny Barron.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/leonard-hochman-mn0001330358/biography

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Reseña
por Scott Yanow  
El veterano tenor-saxofonista Leonard Hochman es en realidad menos conocido que sus acompañantes (el pianista Kenny Barron, el bajista Harvie Swartz, el baterista Victor Lewis y el vibrafonista Joe Locke) en este CD. Hochman, que ya estaba activo musicalmente en los años 50 antes de pasar gran parte de su vida fuera del jazz, volvió a la escena musical creativa a principios de los 90 y demostró estar todavía en su mejor momento musical. En su segunda grabación como líder, Hochman, como tenor, se inspira en varios momentos en Stan Getz, Lester Young y Dexter Gordon, a la vez que muestra un sólido tono propio. Su clarinete bajo orientado al bop (que se escucha en su mejor momento a dúo con el bajista Swartz en "The End Of A Beautiful Friendship") aparece en la mitad de las selecciones y demuestra que el enfoque de Eric Dolphy no es la única manera de improvisar en el subestimado y colorido instrumento. Otros temas destacados son la temperamental "Manhattan Morning" de Hochman, una cálida interpretación (con clarinete bajo) de "I Apologize" y joyas tan oscuras como "Tynan Time" de Art Pepper y "Cheesecake" de Dexter Gordon. El toque lírico del vibrafonista Locke es un plus en las baladas. Esta buena fecha moderna de la corriente principal es fácilmente recomendable.


Biografía
por Scott Yanow
Teniendo en cuenta lo bien que toca Leonard Hochman en su CD Until Tomorrow de Brownstone de 1994 (sonando un poco como Zoot Sims en el tenor y mostrando un tono cálido en el clarinete bajo), es sorprendente que este fuera su primer álbum como líder, ¡y que hubiera dejado de tocar en gran medida en 1963! Nacido en Filadelfia, Hochman vivió durante un tiempo en Nueva York y creció en Richmond, Virginia. Empezó a tocar el tenor a los 11 años. Trabajó por cuenta propia desde los 15 hasta los 24 años, tocando en una gran variedad de escenarios, incluyendo dos años en los Catskills. Entre los músicos con los que actuó se encuentran Kai Winding, Al Haig, Phil Woods, Kenny Clarke, Brew Moore, Charlie Barnet y Herbie Mann. En 1957 Hochman se trasladó a Boston y pasó seis años como músico de estudio. Grabó con Phil Wilson a principios de la década de 1960, pero todavía era poco conocido cuando dejó de tocar en 1963. Hochman trabajó en una empresa de alquiler de instrumentos para bandas, acabó comprando el negocio y se convirtió en un exitoso hombre de negocios. Después de vender la empresa, empezó a tocar de nuevo a principios de los años 90 y su talento para la improvisación y su tono mejoraron con los años. Fue un gran descubrimiento cuando grabó Until Tomorrow aunque ya tenía 61 años. Entre sus amigos en su largamente esperado debut se encuentran el guitarrista Mitch Seidman, Harvie Swartz y el difunto Alan Dawson. Hizo un conjunto de seguimiento, Manhattan Morning en 1995 con un quinteto que incluía a Swartz y Kenny Barron.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/leonard-hochman-mn0001330358/biography

Tracklist:
1 - Greystone
Composed By – Leonard Hochman
2 - Manhattan Morning
Composed By – Leonard Hochman
3 - Tynan Time
Composed By – Art Pepper
4 - I Apologize
Composed By – Al Goodhart, Al Hoffman, Ed Nelson (2)
5 - Cheesecake
Composed By – Dexter Gordon
6 - DaLarna
Composed By – Tommy Flanagan
7 - Beautiful Friendship
Composed By – Donald Kahn
Lyrics By – Stanley Styne
8 - Let Me
Composed By – Baden Powell
9 - Take Your Time
Composed By – Harvie Swartz
10 - Dream Sequence
Composed By – Mitch Seidman


Credits:
    Bass, Producer – Harvie Swartz
    Drums – Victor Lewis
    Piano – Kenny Barron
    Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Leonard Hochman
    Vibraphone – Joe Locke

Label: Jazzheads – JH-9495
Released: 1996
Genre: Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/13782426-Leonard-Hochman-Manhattan-Morning

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