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Steve Slagle: Alto Manhattan
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.
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.
Title: Alto Manhattan | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Panorama Records
Tags
Steve Slagle
CD/LP/Track Review
Roger Farbey
Panorama Records
United States
New Jersey
Newark
joe lovano
McCoy Tyner
Toots Thielemans
Herbie Mann
Alto Manhattan
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Jazz combines creativity from the mind, heart, and the gut. It flourishes through structure and uses melody and rhythm to bridge the musician's creativity and the listener's imagination. I try to appreciate all forms of music and styles of jazz but find myself drawn to the “hot music” of the twenties through the early thirties, including its many contemporary incarnations
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