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Jimmy Greene: The Overcomer's Suite
ByGreene's thematic focus on The Overcomer's Suite is just that: overcoming. What we get is a series of tributes to those who beat the odds. Greene leads off with the soaring "Anthem of Hope," honors his mother with "Nelba's Victory" and then arrives at the biblically-themed core of the suite with "Song for Isaiah," "Gethsemane" and "David Undaunted." Curtis' bass solo connecting the last two movements can be said to echo the Jimmy Garrison interlude on John Coltrane's A Love Supreme (Impulse!, 1964). Moreover, Greene's religious narrative brings to mind Xavier Davis' own "Faith Suite" from the NJCO's The Turning Gate (Motema, 2008). When Davis and Greene pare down to close the album as a duo, playing the Bud Powell ballad "I'll Keep Loving You" (in tribute to Greene's mentor Jackie McLean), their deep affinity is even clearer.
The stint with Harrell has certainly strengthened Greene's compositional ideas and robust, three-dimensional tone on the horn. Both get a thorough airing on The Overcomer's Suite. The melodies are strong, the rhythms compelling, the forms extended and involved, giving the quartet plenty of room not only to stretch, but to turn together on a dime, in what is one of the finer statements of 2008.
Track Listing
Anthem of Hope; Nelba's Victory; Song for Isaiah; Gethsemane; David Undaunted; I'll Keep Loving You.
Personnel
Jimmy Greene
saxophoneLuques Curtis: bass; Xavier Davis: piano; Jimmy Greene: soprano, tenor Sax; Kendrick Scott: drums.
Album information
Title: The Overcomer's Suite | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Nu Jazz Entertainment
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The Overcomer's Suite