Home » Jazz Articles » Steve Slagle: Alto Manhattan

Steve Slagle: Alto Manhattan

By Roger Farbey
November 15, 2016
Sign in to view read count

Alto Manhattan is a confident and intelligent follow-up to saxophonist Steve Slagle's 2012 album Evensong. Kicking-off with a blues head (but with a twist) "Family" is a no-nonsense stormer benefitting from guests Joe Lovano on tenor sax and Roman Diaz on congas and some good tenor / alto "jousting" towards the end of the track. "Alto Manhattan" is Latino for the NYC area in which Steve lives, otherwise known as Upper Manhattan or The Heights. Here it's represented by a brisk boppy number with Slagle leading a quartet on alto.

Slagle is heard alone wistfully soloing over the whole of Johnny Green's "Body & Soul," the first of three tracks not composed by the altoist. Slagle's serpentine runs quizzically explore all the registers of the alto saxophone. McCoy Tyner's modal "Inception" which first appeared on his 1962 debut album, here gradually transmutes into a minor blues. The affecting ballad "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry," the third and final non-original number in this set is followed by the breezy "A.M." which again features Joe Lovano on tenor. "Holiday," a light and airy paean to the late Toots Thielemans sees Slagle appearing here on flute and joined by Lovano on mezzo soprano sax.

The final number "Viva La Famalia" with Slagle once more on flute, has a relaxed Latin feel and is constructed over a simple obligato bass line, at times redolent of some of Herbie Mann's extemporised pieces, rendering it as a satisfying conclusion to a very good album.

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: 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

Post a comment about this album

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.

WE NEED YOUR 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.