Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ken Stubbs: Ballads

Ken Stubbs: Ballads

By Jim Santella
January 1, 2001
Sign in to view read count

Alto saxophonist Ken Stubbs combines his light, dry alto saxophone timbre with minimal accompaniment on a session for romantics. Working with guitar trio on two tracks, piano on two and the piano trio elsewhere, Stubbs weaves slowly in and around familiar standards. They’re lovely songs that recall lyrics and stories. Appropriately, Stubbs adapts his vocal-like phrasing to interpret each melody comfortably. It’s an album for sitting back, pouring yourself something useful and listening; while daydreaming about better days.

Cool and swinging with a light touch, the saxophonist surrounds himself with like-minded sensitive artists. Bios and relevant information, as well as a listen to “You Are Too Beautiful,” are available at Stubbs’ web site .

Representing an entire century of jazz, Ballads celebrates the warmth contained in song. Stubbs’ view of “swing” is conservative and subdued. His arrangements allow for adventurous improvising without any overt hint of passion. Rather, the session pulls from a world where cooler heads prevail. The warmth in Stubbs’ style is intended to be appreciated on a personal level. Rather than shout I LOVE YOU from the rooftops, the saxophonist prefers to whisper it in your ear. While his accompaniment appears musically uneven, Stubbs says it beautifully through his horn.

Track Listing

I Got It Bad and That Ain

Personnel

Ken Stubbs

saxophone, alto

Ken Stubbs- alto saxophone, tenor clarinet on

Album information

Title: Ballads | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Cherry K Records

< Previous
2000 Rewind

Next >
Nocturnal

Comments

About Ken Stubbs

Instrument: Saxophone, alto

Tags

For the Love of Jazz

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.