Greg Abate: Bop Lives

This CD is proof that BOP is alive and well and living in the hearts of jazz enthusiasts the world over. The torch has passed from the Spirit of Bird and Dizzy to a new breed of musician. Abate is more than capable of handling the legacy. You no longer have to settle for reissues of recordings by the legends. You can hear live, spontaneous music as evidenced by this album. Love's No Secret, which is based on chord changes from "Secret Love" is a perfect example of Abate's ability as a saxophonist and a composer. It is a perfect launching pad for this group. Our man from Brazil, Claudio Roditi, also wrote a tune for this album, Blues for H. O. You can hear the influence of this polestar of the trumpet and flugelhorn throughout the CD. The partnership between Greg and Claudio must have been made in music heaven, because you can feel the respect they have for each other. Even more evident is the equal amount of intensity they display on these charts. Kenny Barron is in top form on "Children's Waltz" and "Voyage." Rufus Reid and Ben Riley both speak to jazz purists throughout this session. One of my favorite things is a Kurt Weill song, "Speak Low," and it is a fine choice to showcase the talent of the entire quintet. Greg plays alto sax on all the tunes on this CD. Clearly, the alto is his highest calling, although he is a virtuoso on all reed instruments. This CD is an excellent investment to add to your CD collection.