Eric Alexander: Chicago To New York

Eric Alexander, widely praised for years as one of the jazz world's foremost tenor saxophonists, greets listeners with an unforeseen yet tantalizing curve ball on his latest album, Chicago to New York, employing his luminous soprano sax to enhance the first two numbers, John Coltrane's "Afro Blue" and "Wise One," before unleashing his trustworthy and perceptive tenor to usher him securely through the last five.

While the soprano adds spice to Alexander's musical menu, the tenor remains his bread and butter, as witness his mastery of mood and tempo on Gene Ammons' bluesy "Hittin' the Jug" and a quartet of well-traveled standards, including "This Is Always," "Angel Eyes," a too-seldom-heard Frank Sinatra treasure, "Only the Lonely," and the tenor's tour de force,, a breathtaking and lightning-quick reading of "The Lamp Is Low" that tests not only Alexander's awesome chops but those of his deft and able-bodied colleagues: pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer George Fludas.

Carroll and Fludas comprise the Chicago connection, as that is their home base, whereas Alexander and LeDonne call the New York City area home. Even so, the quartet in its varied frameworks has played together on many occasions and Fludas has recorded with Alexander at least once. LeDonne, who shines on piano or organ (but plays only piano here), is a superb accompanist and soloist, while Carroll and Fludas make sure the rhythmic ingredients are fresh and tasteful. Alexander, for his part, maintains his usual standard of excellence, easily wending his way through any and all melodic and rhythmic barriers with proficiency and assurance.

While "Afro Blue" and "Wise One" may seem unlikely departures from the norm, Alexander infuses them with singular warmth and charm, wresting all the color and gracefulness he can from the soprano while proving he is a master of that instrument, too, as he sets the stage for the tenor-based banquet to come. From Chicago to New York, or wherever else one wishes to travel, Alexander and his mates go the extra mile to make sure the journey is smooth and pleasurable.