It has been far too long since anyone had the pleasure of eavesdropping on a two-tenor duel as heated and expressive as the one between Canadian gurus Nick Hempton and Cory Weeds on the suitably named Horns Locked. As the album's opening number, James Moody's fast-chugging "Last Train from Overbrook," unfolded, the memories came flooding back: hazy snapshots of Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Wardell Gray, Johnny Griffith, Lockjaw Davis and their counterparts who made battling tenors a classic staple during the palmy era of the 1950s-60s.
Hempton and Weeds designed the album to rekindle those memories while offering their own up-to-date version of no-holds-barred twin-tenor combat, a plan that succeeds on every level from first note to last. There are several reasons for that, not the least of which is that Hempton and Weeds are throwbacks to that special era in terms of perception, temperament and style. Not only do these modern-day masters of the horn share the passion and wisdom of the tenor giants of those bygone days, they also sound much like them as well.
While the album notes do not indicate the solo order, that is really unnecessary, as there is not enough room, as the saying goes, to insert a dime between their voices or vocabularies. Suffice to say that Hempton and Weeds are consummate artists whose lyrical pathways coincide far more than they diverge. That does not make the outcome any less pleasurable or inspiring. They are, in fact, emulating their predecessors, many of whom sounded so much alike that one had to pay close attention to ascertain who was playing what and when.
Hempton and Weeds are ably supported on every number by organist Nick Peck (who makes the presence of a bassist unnecessary) and drummer Jesse Cahill. Peck is a superb soloist and accompanist. His technique is in the Joey DeFrancesco realm with perception to match. Cahill, for his part, does whatever is needed to ensure rhythmic vibrance and stability. Besides "Overbrook," the charming program encompasses seductive originals by Gordon ("Soy Califa"), Ammons ("The One Before This") and Weeds ("Conn Men"), the standards "Polka Dots & Moonbeams" and "When You're Smiling," and a pair of gems from Hempton: the chops-busting "Change for a Dollar" and bluesy closer, "Loose Ends." To enhance diversity, half of the album's eight numbers were recorded in a studio, the others live at Frankie's Jazz Club in Vancouver.
While Horns Locked is a self-evident treat for anyone who recalls and cherishes the legendary two-tenor clashes of yesteryear, it has far more than reminiscence or nostalgia to offer. Hempton and Weeds are modern-day masters of the horn, worthy recipients of the praise and honors bestowed on the pioneers who created the genre and paved the way for today's talented luminaries to follow their lead.
By Jack Bowers
April 20, 2025
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/horns-locked-nick-hempton-cory-weeds-cellar-music-group
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Ha pasado demasiado tiempo desde que alguien tuvo el placer de escuchar a escondidas un duelo de dos tenores tan acalorado y expresivo como el que mantienen los gurús canadienses Nick Hempton y Cory Weeds en el álbum Horns Locked. A medida que se desarrollaba el número de apertura del álbum, el acelerado «Last Train from Overbrook» de James Moody, los recuerdos se agolpaban: nebulosas instantáneas de Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Wardell Gray, Johnny Griffith, Lockjaw Davis y sus homólogos que hicieron de la lucha de tenores un clásico básico durante la época palpitante de los años cincuenta y sesenta.
Hempton y Weeds diseñaron el álbum para reavivar esos recuerdos al tiempo que ofrecían su propia versión actualizada del combate de tenores gemelos sin cuartel, un plan que tiene éxito en todos los niveles, desde la primera nota hasta la última. Hay varias razones para ello, y no la menor es que Hempton y Weeds son un retroceso a esa época especial en términos de percepción, temperamento y estilo. Estos maestros modernos de la trompa no sólo comparten la pasión y la sabiduría de los gigantes del tenor de aquellos días pasados, sino que también suenan como ellos.
Aunque las notas del álbum no indican el orden de los solos, eso es realmente innecesario, ya que no hay espacio suficiente, como suele decirse, para intercalar una moneda de diez centavos entre sus voces o vocabularios. Baste decir que Hempton y Weeds son artistas consumados cuyos caminos líricos coinciden mucho más de lo que divergen. Eso no hace que el resultado sea menos placentero o inspirador. De hecho, emulan a sus predecesores, muchos de los cuales sonaban tan parecidos que había que prestar mucha atención para saber quién tocaba qué y cuándo.
Hempton y Weeds son apoyados hábilmente en cada número por el organista Nick Peck (que hace innecesaria la presencia de un bajista) y el batería Jesse Cahill. Peck es un magnífico solista y acompañante. Su técnica está a la altura de Joey DeFrancesco, con una percepción a la altura. Cahill, por su parte, hace todo lo necesario para garantizar la vibración y estabilidad rítmicas. Además de «Overbrook», el encantador programa incluye seductores temas originales de Gordon («Soy Califa»), Ammons («The One Before This») y Weeds («Conn Men»), los estándares «Polka Dots & Moonbeams» y «When You're Smiling», y un par de joyas de Hempton: la rompedora «Change for a Dollar» y el cierre bluesero, «Loose Ends». Para aumentar la diversidad, la mitad de los ocho temas del álbum se grabaron en estudio y el resto en directo en el Frankie's Jazz Club de Vancouver.
Aunque Horns Locked es una delicia evidente para cualquiera que recuerde y aprecie los legendarios enfrentamientos de dos tenores de antaño, ofrece mucho más que reminiscencia o nostalgia. Hempton y Weeds son maestros modernos de la trompa, dignos receptores de los elogios y honores concedidos a los pioneros que crearon el género y allanaron el camino para que las luminarias de talento de hoy sigan su ejemplo.
Por Jack Bowers
20 de abril de 2025
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/horns-locked-nick-hempton-cory-weeds-cellar-music-group
nickhemptonband.com ...
1 - Last Train From Overbrook 05:35
2 - Change For A Dollar 09:13
3 - Soy Califa 06:32
4 - Conn Men 07:42
5 - Polkadots & Moonbeams 07:16
6 - The One Before This 09:36
7 - When You're Smiling 05:03
8 - Loose Ends 07:57
Credits:
Nick Hempton – tenor saxophone
Cory Weeds – tenor saxophone
Nick Peck – Hammond B3 Organ
Jesse Cahill – drums
Executive Producer: Cory Weeds
Produced by Cory Weeds
Tracks 2, 5, 6, 8 recorded at Frankie’s Jazz Club on October 23rd, 2023
Track 1, 3, 4, 7 recorded at Aero Studios on June 1st, 2024
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