Jazz Articles about Jerry Bergonzi

Jerry Bergonzi: Reptilian Fantasies & Tenor Talk

by Tom Greenland
January 10, 2009

Bruce Gertz Quintet Reptilian Fantasies Open Mind Jazz 2008 Jerry Bergonzi Tenor Talk Savant Records 2008

Jerry Bergonzi, a turbo-charged tenorist in the tradition of Coltrane, Rollins and Hank Mobley, has been flying just under the radar of heavyweight acclaim for many years; two releases show why this Boston-based journeyman deserves ...

Jerry Bergonzi: Tenor Talk

by Jakob Baekgaard
August 11, 2008

Talking about the tenor. Talking about the giants. Talking about Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Hank Mobley, Sonny Rollins and Pharoah Sanders. Talking about the people who blew the night into day and the day into night. They were swinging, singing, shouting--always searching deeper into the music.

To play the tenor is to carry the load of tradition, and nobody carries this load more gracefully than Jerry Bergonzi who, like George Garzone, belongs to the category of ...

Jerry Bergonzi: Tenorist

by Joshua Weiner
July 31, 2007

We all make our choices in life, and perhaps saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi's desire to teach--which has resulted in a position at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston as well as several acclaimed books on improvisation--explains why he does not have the name recognition (and big major label contract) of some other tenors. Judging from this Savant release, Tenorist, it sure ain't the music.This disc is full of strong tunes and exciting playing, but alas and alack ...

Jerry Bergonzi: Tenor of the Times

by Paul Ryan
September 18, 2006

This effort from tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi offers little in the way of new ideas or creativity. He seems mired in the world of John Coltrane, in many instances replicating the master's phrasing and sound. The instrumentation of the album is also the same as Coltrane's classic quartet (tenor, piano, bass, and drums). To compare the two groups would be silly, however, given that the latter unit cut its albums over four decades ago.

“You're My Everything," the ...

Pamela Hines: Twilight World

by Jim Santella
April 28, 2005

Pianist Pamela Hines puts her quartet through a powerfully driven modern mainstream session on Twilight World, which also includes searing ballads and heartfelt blues. With tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, she interprets a program of pert originals and other fresh themes.

Marian McPartland's “Twilight World" serves as the album's centerpiece, with its flowing melody and light Latin beat. The pianist provides a strong foundation for Bergonzi's articulate tenor, applying sparkling counterpoint that flows naturally. Her solo interludes give each ...

Pamela Hines: Twilight World

by Paul Olson
February 12, 2005

Massachusetts pianist Pamela Hines has an elegantly swinging style with nimble, precise soloing and a great, autonomous left hand. Too bad there's not more of her on her CD Twilight World. She's got a great-sounding supporting cast in drummer Reed Deiffenbach, fretless electric bassist David Hines, acoustic bassist John Lockwood (these two split the album's nine songs between themselves), and tenor master Jerry Bergonzi. So where's Hines?Bergonzi's a journeyman player who knows his way around a tenor as ...

Jerry Bergonzi, Joey Calderazzo, Lars Danielsson, Jukkis Uotila Quartet: Fast Company

by C. Michael Bailey
May 1, 1999

Talent Abounds. Fast Company resulted from the meeting of North (Scandinavian) and West (American). This band began as a Scandinavian jazz tour featuring American Tenorist Jerry Bergonzi and Pianist Joey Calderazzo coupled with Finnish Drummer Jukkis Uotila and Danish Bassist Lars Danielsson. Bergonzi and Calderazzo have recorded widely for major labels in the States while Jukkis Uotila is considered one of the most promising jazz composers on the Finnish scene today. Danielsson can boast having worked with the likes of ...