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Eric Alexander: Leap of Faith
ByUnlike many exponents of "free jazz," Alexander never loses touch with the harmonic framework that lends such music its aesthetic as well as cerebral appeal. Even when hanging on a discordant limb, he remains at heart an unapologetic straight-from-the-shoulder swinger, even on the cacophonous finale, "Second Impression," on which he sounds as unlike the "usual" Eric Alexander as on anything he has ever recorded. The same holds true on most other numbers, from the fleet and staccato opener, "Luquitas," to the equally propulsive "Second Impression."
The tempo (but not the passion) slows to some degree on "Mars," whose harmonic progression, Alexander writes, is based on Bruno Mars' pop hit, "Finesse." A piano is used to good effect on "Corazon Perdido," as Alexander accompanies himself on the moody change-of-pace that leads to another wailer, the gritty "Hard Blues," followed by the mercurial and well-named "Frenzy." Alexander is bold and unrestrained on each of them, as he is on the more moderately paced "Big Richard" and "Magyar," the last based on themes from Bela Bartok's "Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste." While Blake solos brightly on "Luquitas," and Weiss on "Big Richard," it is Alexander's robust and (unusually) strident voice that animates every number.
Leap of Faith traverses new and unexplored territory, for Alexander and his fans, and it is they who must decide whether that leap has thrust him forward or backward. No definitive conclusion will be drawn here. The stars are for Alexander who even in this atypical framework is never less than very good.
Track Listing
Luquitas; Mars; Corazon Perdido; Hard Blues; Frenzy; Big Richard; Magyar; Second Impression.
Personnel
Album information
Title: Leap of Faith | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Giant Step Arts
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About Eric Alexander
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
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