Jon Gordon: 7th Ave South

Some of life's moments, even when buried in the past, remain almost as fresh and memorable as today's. Such is alto saxophonist Jon Gordon's memory of his first visit to New York City's then-jazz center, Greenwich Village's 7th Avenue South, which was "the first place [he] ever heard live jazz in New York." That was in 1983—nearly four decades ago—but that memory and those that followed were enough to inspire Gordon's latest album, appropriately titled 7th Ave South.

Gordon, a native New Yorker, was a young lion then, an esteemed veteran now, but still as limber and inventive as when he first visited that jazz mecca as an eager and inquisitive teenager. In the spirit of reverence that suffuses his nonet's warm salute to 7th Avenue, Gordon enlists a chorus to open and close the largely pleasing studio date. Besides playing alto, Gordon arranged all but one of the album's ten numbers (trombonist Alan Ferber arranged the glossy and prismatic "Paradox") and wrote all save Quincy Davis' pensive "Ponder This" and John Lennon-Paul McCartney's charming "Here, There and Everywhere."

Erin Propp sings respectably on "Here, There and Everywhere" and "Ed's Groove," Joanna Majoko (wordless) on "Ponder This." Propp offers a second wordless vocal on "Visit." Tracks 7-9 ("Visit," "Intro," "Spark") presumably refer to Gordon's recap of his long-ago journeys to 7th Avenue South, a venue wherein his jazz voice began to take shape. It is a voice that has grown stronger and more eloquent with the passage of time, and is impeccably displayed here on every number. While Gordon's voice is most prominent, there are admirable solos along the way by Ferber, trumpeter Jonathan Challoner, tenor Walter Smith III, pianist Will Bonness and drummer Fabio Ragnelli. Bass clarinetist John Ellis, guitarist Jocelyn Gould and bassist Julian Bradford round out the ensemble.

Although the session is well written and ably performed, one evident weakness is that, aside from "Spark," there is slight heat to be found on 7th Ave South, which, by and large, saunters coolly and casually from start to finish. If that does not bother you, there is much to savor and appreciate in Gordon's long-awaited return to Greenwich Village.

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