Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Don Aliquo: Jazz Folk

172

Don Aliquo: Jazz Folk

By

Sign in to view read count
Don Aliquo: Jazz Folk
The music on Jazz Folk has nothing whatsoever to do with folk music. Instead, Don Aliquo reports that he aimed to "capture the soul and spirit of folk music." Perhaps the title refers to "jazz people," which would make more sense.

Don Aliquo is a well-respected saxophonist and educator in Nashville and a Director of Studies as well as Associate Professor of saxophone at Middle Tennessee State University. This is his fourth album, and he accurately describes his music as "out and out mainstream East Coast." In other words, the tenor player is inspired by the golden years of the Blue Note label. His ensemble consists of West Coast trumpeter Clay Jenkins, pianist Dana Landry, the estimable bassist Rufus Reid, and drummer Jim White. With the exception of Kurt Weill's "This is New" and Jule Styne's "Never Never Land," the other seven tunes are original, including three from Reid.

The two-horn front line is very reminiscent of the many hard bop recordings from the late-'50s and early-'60s New York jazz scene. Aliquo's best music comes on "This Is New," where he evokes the style of the late-'50s Prestige-period Coltrane. Aliquo blows a cooking solo while Landry provides some Tyner-ish jabs on piano, before Jenkins comes in. "Peaceful Flame" and "Spiral Staircase" sound like modal Herbie Hancock compositions from the early '60s; Jenkins employs a mute trumpet alongside Aliquo's sax.

On "Spiral Staircase," Rufus Reid's bass solo leads to an effective statement by Aliquo, followed by Jenkins and Landry. "Never Never Land," a jazz standard since Bill Evans recorded it, provides an opportunity for Aliquo to display his ballad skills, and he does sound very comfortable here. Jenkins also sounds cogent in his playing and solos.

However, a constant "been-here-before" vibe accompanies much of the album. Several of the tunes are average vehicles for the quintet, but no more than that.

Track Listing

Jazz Folk; This Is New; Spiral Staircase; Forever on My Mind; Peaceful Flame; Time and Again; Never Never Land; Frayed; Come Out and Play

Personnel

Don Aliquo
saxophone
Clay Jenkins
trumpet
Rufus Reid
bass, acoustic
Jim White
drums

Album information

Title: Jazz Folk | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Self Produced

Comments

Tags


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.

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.