Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jimmy Halperin: Joy & Gravitas

Jimmy Halperin: Joy & Gravitas

By Florence Wetzel
August 11, 2005
View read count

Jimmy Halperin should be better known. A highly original tenor and soprano saxophonist who studied and worked with Lennie Tristano, Sal Mosca, and Warne Marsh, he combines a unique conception with a gorgeous tone and great facility. On Joy & Gravitas he's supported by bassist Dominic Duval and drummer Jay Rosen, two musicians whose skills both lay a foundation and create space.

The CD is comprised of an unusual selection of tunes, encompassing standards such as "Night in Tunisia, "My Funny Valentine, "Don't Explain, "'Round Midnight, and "Naima, plus Wayne Shorter's "Witch Hunt, Kenny Barron's "Voyage, Jimi Hendrix's "Spanish Castle Magic, and Halperin's original "Plazma.

"Night in Tunisia is terrific; Halperin's sax is urgent and slightly fractured, at times almost like a human voice. "Witch Hunt is another gem, with Halperin both piercing and lyrical, his sax emitting a series of bleeps and twists and flutters. "Spanish Castle Magic has a great groove that stays true to the Hendrix sound and at the same time takes the music to the next level.

One of the CD's unique features is two takes of "Don't Explain, one each on tenor and soprano. The tenor take sticks close to the melody and brings out the song's heartbreak and melancholy, while the soprano highlights Halperin's conceptual gifts. The two takes offer fascinating insight into jazz's pliability.

Halperin is exciting to listen to because you're never quite sure where he's going next. In the liner notes CIMP producer Bob Rusch muses as to whether Halperin's work is outside in or inside out: it's that quality exactly which makes it so satisfying.

Track Listing

Night in Tunisia; Witch Hunt; Voyage; Love For Sale; My Funny Valentine; Plazma; Don't Explain (take 1); Naima; Don't Explain (take 2); Spanish Castle Magic; 'Round Midnight.

Personnel

Jimmy Halperin

saxophone, tenor

Jimmy Halperin: tenor and soprano saxophones; Dominic Duval: bass; Jay Rosen: drums.

Album information

Title: Joy & Gravitas | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: CIMP Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Forever
< Previous

Gene Harris
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.