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Claire Daly: Swing Low

By Robert Spencer
December 1, 1999
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If you think female wind players are limited to the flute or oboe, with an occasional soprano or alto saxophonist thrown in, get ready for Claire Daly, who plays baritone sax with a big roundhouse sound - although from the looks of the cover photo of "Swing Low" it's almost as big as she is.

But however she may heft it, Daly's baritone should end forever any gender prejudice that may still exist in jazz circles, for if this disc had come in anonymously the story would only be about the passionate intensity and assurance of the baritone playing, the suave execution of the tunes, the excellence of the group, and so on.

Daly can play hard bop. She can play the blues. She brings all the chryselephantine power of her instrument to the proceedings, but she can also make that elephant jump. The great reedman George Garzone shows up on a few tracks, but he does not outshine the leader.

Excellent mainstream baritone jazz from a musician with tremendous ability.

Personnel

Claire Daly

saxophone, baritone

Claire Daly, baritone saxophone; Eli Yamin, piano; Dave Hofstra, bass; Peter Grant, drums; George Garzone, tenor saxophone (3, 7, 11).

Contact: Koch International USA, 2 Tri

Album information

Title: Swing Low | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: KOCH International Jazz

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About Claire Daly

Instrument: Saxophone, baritone

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