Steve Slagle: Ballads: Into the Heart of it

New York-based saxophonist, composer and educator Steve Slagle refused to let the pandemic interfere with his recording activities, and in August of 2021 completed a project covering an assortment of wonderful ballads on Ballads: Into the Heart of it. Having carved out a distinguished musical career spanning over four decades and documented on over 20 albums as leader, presenting the ballads in a slightly different way was a new challenge Slagle mastered elegantly.

The album features a mix of originals and classics, among them, Tadd Dameron's "If You Could See Me Now," the Wood/Mellin composition "My One and Only Love" and the Miles Davis / Bill Evans standard "Blue in Green." Not wanting to make another "traditional ballads recording where everything sounds the same," Slagle painted new colors on an old canvas and designed new originals with new textures.

The music opens with "Blue in Green," providing a fresh new twist on an oft recorded tune offering a bit of emotion on the alto while being well-accompanied by longtime friend Richard Sussman's synthesizer orchestrations. The leader delivers a beautiful new treatment of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's "Le Sucrier Velours (Queen Suite)" featuring pianist Bruce Barth and soft brush work from drummer Jason Tiemann.

Trumpeter Randy Brecker lends a hand on Thelonious Monk's "Reflections" as the two legends offer delicate call and respond moments on this slow burner. The duo joins forces again on Slagle's title track accompanied by the drummer and pianist in delivering special moments, making this track one to sample often. The last Brecker collaboration as guest comes on the finale original, "Big Mac," one of the meatier tunes with quite a swing to it (not sounding much like a ballad, which is presumably why it's a bonus track).

Also not to be overlooked are "Si, See," "If You Could See Me Now," "The Four Margarets," and "Kiss Lonely Goodbye. Saxophonist Steve Slagle continues to produce some of the finest jazz music on the planet and Ballads: Into the Heart of it shines a new light on his softer side.