Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Bunky Green: Another Place

647

Bunky Green: Another Place

By

Sign in to view read count
Bunky Green: Another Place
This release is a welcome reminder that Bunky Green is alive and well—and one of the dozen most important alto sax players in the country. In spite of notable associations with bands led by Charles Mingus, Sonny Stitt and Yusef Lateef, Green's available catalog until this release consisted of a single disc, Healing the Pain (Delos, 1990). But Green was befriended by Steve Coleman, and we have this recording as a result. Part of Coleman's genius is getting talent, ranging from a young Cassandra Wilson to an elderly Von Freeman, to be noticed by labels and audiences. Coleman produced this impressive session and introduced Green to perhaps the greatest rhythm section of his career: pianist Jason Moran, bassist Lonnie Plaxico and drummer Nasheet Waits.

To say that Green has "his own sound" is just one way of noting his achievement. He has flawless control of the alto's upper registers and his own form of the blues cry: piercingly passionate, yet always integrated within exquisitely crafted solos that are teeming with ideas. Like the man he replaced in the Mingus band, Jackie McLean, he can play "inside" and "outside" when apt within a single tune, so if the McLean of Destination Out (Blue Note, 1963) resonates for you, so will Bunky Green.

But Green is a different kind of composer and improviser than McLean was—and more of a psychologically charged storyteller in his solos—as the four originals on this disc demonstrate. The emotional landscape of his original tunes range from the thoughtfully nuanced lyricism of "With All My Love," a musical "love letter" to his wife, to the fiery quest for personal meaning in "Tune X." His covers are equally provocative. "It Could Happen to You" is as unsentimental and rough-and-tumble as Chet Baker's version was teary and soft as marshmallow.

Green's young rhythm section sounds pleased to play with such a versatile and protean talent. These three musicians have clearly listened hard to his blend of daredevil daring and impeccable control, and they've found the right balance within themselves. With so much rightful praise given to players like Sonny Rollins and Ornette Coleman in their 70s, this album proves that yet another seventy-something giant is still wailing.

Track Listing

It Could Happen to You; With All My Love; Another Place; Tune X; Be; Soul Eyes.

Personnel

Bunky Green
saxophone, alto

Bunky Green: alto saxophone; Jason Moran: piano; Lonnie Plaxico: bass; Nasheet Waits: drums.

Album information

Title: Another Place | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Label Bleu

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter 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.

You Can 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.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.