Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Kerry Strayer Septet feat. Gary Foster: Mentor

104

Kerry Strayer Septet feat. Gary Foster: Mentor

By

Sign in to view read count
Kerry Strayer Septet feat. Gary Foster: Mentor
If there is one accomplishment Kerry Strayer should be proud of, it is his productivity as an arranger. He estimates that over the course of his career he has written 300 hundred charts for his bands. That indeed is impressive. Happily, it is not mere statistics. Strayer breathes life into a song with his arrangements. He knows how to stoke dialogue and to give room to a soloist who fits into the evolution of the tune.

Having musicians who know how to control a chart and then chart their own course is a plus. The septet works convincingly on both counts, resulting in music that jump-starts and kicks into high gear right from the start. “Saturday 10AM” could witness the opening of one eye and a yawn at the beginning of a weekend. Not so for Gary Foster, who wrote it. He is up and about and cheery as he collars the spark and transports it to Earlie Braggs on trombone and then to Strayer, whose baritone sax brings in a thick texture and the final panel in an enticing edifice. If this one is given more to solo craft, “A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing” is enriched by ensemble structure. Strayer is up front on the baritone, while a rich curtain is created by seamless unison lines from the other brass. Foster cuts in on the tenor and Braggs has his say as well, the emotive power of the soloists enhanced by the tasteful drumming of Todd Strait. There is a cavorting piece called “Gaviota” on which Foster plays flute, lithe and dancing, abetted by percussion from Gary Helm and the lissom Frank Mantooth, who adds rich hues on the piano.

This is a tasteful album.

Visit Kerry Strayer on the web.

Track Listing

Saturday 10 AM; Gaviota; A Flower is a Lovesome Thing; Sweet Lips; Siempre Me Va Bien; Don

Personnel

Kerry Strayer- baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone on

Album information

Title: Mentor | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Kerry Strayer Productions

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

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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