Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Chris Potter: Gratitude

Chris Potter: Gratitude

By Jim Santella
June 1, 2001
View read count

With a like-minded quartet from jazz's mainstream, tenor saxophonist Chris Potter pays homage to saxophone masters John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Sonny Rollins, Eddie Harris, Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, and Ornette Coleman. Most are Potter's compositions. Thirty-year-old Potter has also penned one composition for past masters, as well as one for the current generation. It's a fresh tribute album that steers close enough to each artist's saxophone style without imitating. Potter's star is rising, and his individual take on each piece offers substantial proof.

The leader's tribute to Sonny Rollins, based on a general "St. Thomas" mood, finds the quartet in a funky scene with a little outside saxophone play near the end. "Body and Soul," a duet between bass and bass clarinet, moves steadily with serious respect, but in a manner far removed from the original. Potter honors the saxophone masters – but in his own way. "What's New," for the current generation and those just coming up, finds the tenor saxophonist alone, offering natural improvisation over the tune's familiar chord structure. Sure, it's a little play on words, but Potter's take serves to define mainstream jazz and remind us that the future looks bright — as long as young lions such as this feel free to express both the tradition and their own ideas.

Track Listing

1. The Source (for John Coltrane) 2. Shadow (for Joe Henderson) 3. Sun King (for Sonny Rollins) 4. High Noon (for Eddie Harris) 5. Eurydice (for Wayne Shorter) 6. The Mind.

Personnel

Chris Potter

saxophone, tenor

Chris Potter, tenor, alto, and soprano saxes, bass clarinet, alto flute, Chinese wood flute; Kevin Hays, piano, Fender Rhodes; Scott Colley, bass; Brian Blade, drums.

Album information

Title: Gratitude | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Verve Music Group

About Chris Potter

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Mats Gustafsson / Paul Lovens Duo & ...
< Previous

Buddy Childers
Next >

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.