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Nathan Borton: Each Step
ByWhat Borton does have is a penchant for variety (he moves from trio to quartet, quintet and even sextet on two selections), a keen ear for melody, and a clean, no-nonsense way of swinging that is at least on a par with any of the above mentioned artists, perhaps in part because of his musical inspirations who include Wes Montgomery and Grant Green. Borton also has an enviable supporting cast that includes pianist Xavier Davis, bassist Rodney Whitaker and drummer Keith Hall, with tenor saxophonist Diego Rivera sitting in on three numbers, bass trombonist Chris Glassman on two.
Borton opens with a pair of themes by the quartet, his own "Each Step" and Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things," narrowing to a trio on the lovely Mack Gordon/Harry Warren ballad, "The More I See You." Rivera comes aboard for Joseph Herbst's offbeat arrangement of Miles Davis' "Milestones" (at least that's what it says on the playlist), which precedes Borton's "What Now?" and Napoleon's "These Are the Things We Throw Away." Curiously, "What Now?" calls to mind the standard "Fascination," "These Are the Things" yet another, "I'm in the Mood for Love." The sextet performs on Borton's easygoing "Change," the quartet on the last two numbers, Green's boppish "Grantstand" and Borton's blues-drenched salute to Green, "Grant's Groove," on which Davis moves smoothly to electric keyboard.
Borton's quartet is exemplary, Rivera adds splashes of warmth, and the choice of material is superb. There's not much to find fault with on a date as burnished and well-drawn as this.
Track Listing
Each Step; Just One of Those Things; The More I See You; Milestones; What Now?; These Are the Things We Throw Away; Change; Grantstand; Grant's Groove.
Personnel
Nathan Borton
guitarXavier Davis
pianoRodney Whitaker
bassKeith Hall
drumsDiego Rivera
saxophoneChris Glassman
tromboneAlbum information
Title: Each Step | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: OA2 Records
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Nathan Borton
Album Review
Jack Bowers
Each Step
OA2 Records
Doug MacDonald
Graham Dechter
Kristian Borring
Randy Napoleon
John Moulder
Hendrik Braeckman
Paul Bollenback
Matt Dingledine
Wes Montgomery
Grant Green
Xavier Davis
Rodney Whitaker
Keith Hall
Diego Rivera
Chris Glassman
Miles Davis