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Matt Garrison - Saxophone: Blood Songs
ByThe opening "The Madness Within" offers a spicy taste of what's in store; though brief, it features a hot soprano solo from Garrison, with Dease and guitarist Dave Kain adding to the excitement. Garrison's tenor voice comes out loud and clear on "Trajectory," in an expansive solo highlight, before Gisbert weighs in with some of his own blistering shouts. In obvious reference to his mother, the upbeat, melody-rich "Mom's Song" features Garrison on baritonethe first calypso he's ever written.
The fires burn brightly on Gisbert's "Modern Man," showcasing hard-driving steamy solos from Garrison, Dease and, of course, the heated trumpeter. Dease contributes the beautiful bossa nova-styled "Force," one of the session's most outstanding pieces, featuring more bright spots from the trombonist and the leader, as well as warm lines from guitarist Andrew Swift (his only appearance). The blistering "Interrupted" is the album's centerpiece, with Garrison and Alexanderboth on tenor and on firedelivering memorable solos and trading salvos like two old galleon warships trying to blow each other out of the water.
Composer/lyricist Harry Warren's "The More I See You" sounds quite different from the original, with Garrison's lovely rendition borrowing from saxophonist Hank Mobley's take on this immortal standard. Garrison's closing "Hospital Room Blues" was written while visiting his ailing father in the hospital and is marked by Gisbert's high-pitched trumpet, and Garrison's bluesy display set against a swinging rhythm section, with propulsive posturing from Owens, Jr. and Assaf's deft right-hand accompaniment.
There are times when an artist is able to put together the right combination of musical talent, excellent writing and outstanding performances, and when he does, a successful outing is usually the result. That can definitely be said of Garrison and his impressive Blood Songs, an album where the highlights are many and the outcome is just too good to overlook. Perhaps Garrison should bottle the DNA strands from this set and clone his next project.
Track Listing
The Madness Within; Trajectory; Mom's Song; Modern Man; Force; Interrupted; Parental Units; The More I See You; Hospital Room Blues.
Personnel
Matt Garrison - Saxophone
saxophoneMatt Garrison: tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone; Greg Gisbert: trumpet, flugelhorn; Michael Dease: trombone; Roy Assaf: piano; Dezron Douglas: bass; Ulysses Owens Jr.: drums; Eric Alexander: tenor saxophone (6); Dave Kain: guitar (1); Andrew Swift: guitar (5).
Album information
Title: Blood Songs | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: D Clef Records
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About Matt Garrison - Saxophone
Instrument: Saxophone
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