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Steve Slagle: Alto Manhattan
BySlagle turns in a memorable unaccompanied solo turn with his alto version of the standard "Body and Soul." He incorporates a number of quotes from the jazz canon, including Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight" and Ornette Coleman's "Broadway Blues." The remaining quartet selections include McCoy Tyner's "Inception" (which is included as a result of Slagle's recent stint with the McCoy Tyner Quintet) and the ballad "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry."
Lovano rejoins the group for a quintet performance of the title tune, which had been played by the basic quartet earlier in the program. It's a hot performance, concluding with a section trading fours that gives drummer Bill Stewart a chance to shine. I had the impression it was played at a faster tempo than the quartet version, and was surprised to find that the tempos were about the same when I compared them back to back. Maybe it's the result of this version following a ballad.
Lovano sticks around for the first of the concluding Latin selections (both of which add Diaz back to the rhythm section). Slagle wrote "Holiday" with harmonica master Toots Thielemans in mind, and dedicates this first recording of the song to his memory. Slagle switches to flute, with Lovano playing the rarely heard G mezzo soprano saxophone. The program closes with the piano laying out for Slagle's flute feature "Viva La Famalia." Another first take, it's a breezy, energetic conclusion to a fine jazz program.
Track Listing
Family; Alto Manhattan; I Know That You Know; Body & Soul; Inception; Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry; A.M. ; Holiday (In Memory of Toots Thielemans); Viva La Famalia.
Personnel
Steve Slagle
saxophone, altoSteve Slagle: alto saxophone, flute; Joe Lovano: tenor saxophone (tracks 1 & 7), G mezzo soprano (track 8); Lawrence Fields: piano; Gerald Cannon: bass; Roman Diaz: congas (tracks 1,8 & 9); Bill Stewart: drums.
Album information
Title: Alto Manhattan | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Panorama Records
Comments
About Steve Slagle
Instrument: Saxophone, alto
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