Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Richard Oppenheim: Greenhorn in a Red State

3

Richard Oppenheim: Greenhorn in a Red State

By

Sign in to view read count
Richard Oppenheim: Greenhorn in a Red State
Saxophonist Richard Oppenheim's Greenhorn in a Red State is a delightful album with a tight, simmering groove and filled with musically unique twist and turns. Inspired by his relocation to San Antonio from New York and the relative culture shock this entailed the seven originals are witty, nostalgic and restless.

The front line of Oppenheim's alto and his wife flautist Katchie Cartwright's piccolo gives the melodies a singular agility and elasticity. Cartwright's breezy resonant tone glides over Oppenheim's greasy vibrating sound as the two woodwinds perform a provocative sensual dance on the funk infused "Mean Old Bastrop." Pianist Mark Lomanno leads the backing quartet in a swaggering groove that ends in drummer Kevin Hess' fiery and thrilling unfettered polyrhythms.

Oppenheim utilizes percussionist Georgie Padilla's deft alacrity to add an infectious Latin flavor to such tunes as "Texas Three-Lane Sideslip." Padilla's primal and enthusiastic beats drive the passionate, gritty group play. Oppenheim's own blistering, blues-drenched improvisation arises out of this bubbling sonic cauldron.

Oppenheim demonstrates his lyrical side on perhaps the most inventive composition of the record "Debutante At the Coronation of the Queen of the Order of the Alamo." The haunting ballad features his thick saxophone phrases lilting poetically as his daughter bassist Eleonore Oppenheim accompanies him in sparse, hypnotic reverberations. It is, however, her own melancholic con arco song, that Lomanno's chimes punctuate that makes the piece so intriguing. Classically trained, the younger Oppenheim brings a sedate yet sublime virtuosity to her own solo.

She is also quite adept at anchoring her band mates' often dramatics, multifaceted conversations as on the soulful, cooking "Sunken Kitchens of Terrell Hills." The track also features Cartwright's breathtakingly limber spontaneous flight.

A cleverly innovative and intimate musical memoir Greenhorn in a Red State may not break new ground. It is, however, highly engaging and immensely enjoyable thanks to the superlative artistry of the individual sextet members and Oppenheim's writing skills.

Track Listing

Where Is Baseball?; Texas Three-Lane Sideslip ; The (Intermittent) Sidewalks of San Antone; Sunken Kitchens of Terrell Hills; Debutante At the Coronation of the Queen of the Order of the Alamo; Mean Old Bastrop; Boog Powell's Greasy Barbecue Pit (Is Not in San Antonio).

Personnel

Richard Oppenheim
saxophone, alto

Richard Oppenheim : alto saxophone; Katchie Cartwright: piccolo flute; Mark Lomanno: piano; Eleonore Oppenheim: bass; Kevin Hess: drums; Georgie Padilla: percussion.

Album information

Title: Greenhorn in a Red State | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Harriton Carved Wax

Comments

Tags

Concerts


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
View events near San Antonio
Jazz Near San Antonio
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.