Full of inspired, fiery conviction, saxophonist Stephen Martin channels the Kansas City jazz ecosystem that nurtured his professional and musical development on High Plains, his second album as a leader. Teaming with the virtuosic vibraphonist/pianist Peter Schlamb, bassist Ben Leifer and drummer David Hawkins, Martin tears through the Coltrane-inspired original, "The Void," and Frank Foster's "Simone," while Joe Henderson's "Punjab" lopes and swings conversationally. The classic "Easy Living" delivers a ballad’s restraint while seeming ready to unfold and burst at any moment. With two of his mentors close at hand - saxophonists Bobby Watson & Matt Otto as featured soloists, with Otto also producing the session - the atmosphere is loose, rollicking and familial, reflecting the shared sense of dialect, rhythm and purpose.
https://www.challengerecords.com/products/16393852865594
Every so often, Missouri-bred saxophonist Stephen Martin bears witness to his main man, the late John Coltrane. But, for the most part, he is his own man on his second album as a leader, blowing hot, cool and earnestly on the quartet date, High Plains. Martin's disposition is decidedly contemporary, as he shows whether playing alone or with his special guests, alto saxophonist Bobby Watson (on Benny Golson's "Stablemates") or tenor saxophonist Matt Otto (on Otto's "Euphony"), two of the album's several highlights.
Another is Joe Henderson's light-hearted "Punjab," on which Martin, vibraphonist Peter Schlamb and bassist Ben Leifer carve out especially engaging solos while Leifer and drummer David Hawkins lend their deft touch to the rhythm. Everyone is aggressive on the close-knit, fast-moving "Euphony," which precedes the vigorous finale, Frank Foster's "Simone." Schlamb is at the keyboard for that one, as he is on the album's opening three numbers, before moving to the vibraphone for "Stablemates," "High Plains," "Punjab" and "Euphony." While he is splendid on either instrument, the vibraphone takes pride of place here owing to deftness and clarity.
The album opens with Leifer's warm, introspective "Horizons," on which Martin's tenor saxophone readily captures and reflects its even-tempered mood, before moving to Martin's "The Void" and the standard "Easy Living," both of which, Andrew Stinson writes in the liner notes, were inspired by Coltrane recordings from the '60s, "Chim Chim Cheree" and "I Want to Talk About You." Even though Martin gives them a fresh coat of paint, the ghost of Trane is ever-present. Elsewhere, Watson is always a pleasure to hear, as he proves again on "Stablemates," taken at exactly the proper tempo, with Schlamb providing counterpoint on the vibes and Martin chipping in with a pleasing solo of his own. "Euphony" is a rhythmic delight, with keen statements by Otto, Schlamb and Martin setting the pace while Leifer and Hawkins lend their stamina to the task at hand and Hawkins adds a muscular solo to the mix.
Martin leads a bright and capable ensemble, and the expertise of Watson and Otto provides further spark. In sum, these High Plains (with apologies to Clint Eastwood) are well worth drifting through.
By Jack Bowers
February 5, 2022
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/high-plains-stephen-martin-oa2-records
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Lleno de inspirada y ardiente convicción, el saxofonista Stephen Martin canaliza el ecosistema de jazz de Kansas City que nutrió su desarrollo profesional y musical en High Plains, su segundo álbum como líder. En colaboración con el virtuoso vibrafonista/pianista Peter Schlamb, el bajista Ben Leifer y el baterista David Hawkins, Martin desgarra el original inspirado en Coltrane, "The Void", y "Simone" de Frank Foster, mientras que "Punjab" de Joe Henderson se balancea y conversa. El clásico "Easy Living" ofrece la contención de una balada al tiempo que parece listo para desplegarse y estallar en cualquier momento. Con dos de sus mentores cerca - los saxofonistas Bobby Watson y Matt Otto como solistas, y Otto también produciendo la sesión - el ambiente es suelto, alegre y familiar, reflejando el sentido compartido de dialecto, ritmo y propósito.
https://www.challengerecords.com/products/16393852865594
De vez en cuando, el saxofonista Stephen Martin, criado en Missouri, da testimonio de su hombre principal, el difunto John Coltrane. Pero, en su mayor parte, es su propio hombre en su segundo álbum como líder, soplando caliente, fresco y seriamente en la fecha del cuarteto, High Plains. La disposición de Martin es decididamente contemporánea, como demuestra tanto si toca solo como con sus invitados especiales, el saxofonista alto Bobby Watson (en "Stablemates" de Benny Golson) o el saxofonista tenor Matt Otto (en "Euphony" de Otto), dos de los varios puntos destacados del álbum.
Otro es el desenfadado "Punjab" de Joe Henderson, en el que Martin, el vibrafonista Peter Schlamb y el bajista Ben Leifer esculpen unos solos especialmente atractivos, mientras Leifer y el batería David Hawkins aportan su hábil toque al ritmo. Todos se muestran agresivos en la cercana y rápida "Euphony", que precede al vigoroso final, "Simone" de Frank Foster. Schlamb está en el teclado, como en los tres primeros números del álbum, antes de pasar al vibráfono para "Stablemates", "High Plains", "Punjab" y "Euphony". Aunque es espléndido con cualquiera de los dos instrumentos, el vibráfono ocupa aquí un lugar privilegiado por su destreza y claridad.
El álbum se abre con la cálida e introspectiva "Horizons" de Leifer, en la que el saxo tenor de Martin capta y refleja con facilidad su temperamento uniforme, antes de pasar a "The Void" de Martin y al estándar "Easy Living", ambos inspirados, según escribe Andrew Stinson en las notas de presentación, en las grabaciones de Coltrane de los años 60, "Chim Chim Cheree" y "I Want to Talk About You". Aunque Martin les da una nueva capa de pintura, el fantasma de Trane está siempre presente. Por lo demás, siempre es un placer escuchar a Watson, como demuestra de nuevo en "Stablemates", tomada a un tempo exacto, con Schlamb aportando el contrapunto en el vibráfono y Martin colaborando con un agradable solo propio. "Euphony" es una delicia rítmica, con las agudas declaraciones de Otto, Schlamb y Martin marcando el ritmo, mientras Leifer y Hawkins prestan su resistencia a la tarea que tienen entre manos y Hawkins añade un musculoso solo a la mezcla.
Martin dirige un conjunto brillante y capaz, y la pericia de Watson y Otto aporta más chispa. En resumen, merece la pena recorrer estas High Plains (con perdón de Clint Eastwood).
Por Jack Bowers
5 de febrero de 2022
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/high-plains-stephen-martin-oa2-records
www.stephenmartinjazz.com ...
Tracks:
1 - Horizons 07:12
2 - The Void 08:23
3 - Easy Living 06:46
4 - Stablemates (feat. Bobby Watson) 08:24
5 - High Plains 05:56
6 - Punjab 06:47
7 - Euphony (feat. Matt Otto) 07:51
8 - Simone 07:20
Credits:
Stephen Martin (saxophone)
Peter Schlamb (vibraphone & piano)
Ben Leifer (basses)
David Hawkins (drums)
Special Guests: Bobby Watson (alto saxophone), Matt Otto (tenor saxophone)
Released: 2022
Label: OA2 Records
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