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Mac Gollehon: Mac Straight Ahead
ByThe album starts with Roy Eldridge's "Fish Market," and Gollehon's arrangement of the piece has a slightly raunchy air to it. The Texas tenor attitude is transplanted to baritone saxophone, as Ronnie Cuber delivers a strong performance. The soloists on this one could easily be walking the bar as they deliver their spirited lines. It's hard to imagine anybody doing anything too new with Thelonious Monk's "Round Midnight" at this point, but Jack Jeffers' arrangementwith the bass handling some melodic moments and Gollehon's trumpet working over some unique brass backgroundstakes this well-worn tune to a new place. Gollehon is more Maynard Ferguson than Miles Davis, and his stratospheric flights find a place on the large majority of these songs.
This "Lush Life" has a bit more forward momentum than some renditions, and Gollehon's trumpet work, along with some stellar soli runs, make for an intriguing listen. The title track is Gollehon's first original on the album and organist Greg Kogan makes things simmer right from the start. Bassist Ron McClure underscores the opening of "Carol's Song" with some fat half notes that are simple, yet well-suited to this piece and some swanky, rich brass voicings give way to a slightly noir-ish sensibility on this burnished ballad. Gollehon and company turn up the heat on "Strange Behavior," which begins with the leader's bone work dancing atop Victor Lewis' intense drumming, and an explosive version of "After You've Gone." The final track on the album is a soulful take on Charles Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat." Gollehon's trombone and Cuber's baritone saxophone sizzle here and this dirge-like composition is transformed into a dirty, blues-drenched beauty. While Mac Straight Ahead is far from a one-man show, Gollehon proves to be a jack of all trades and a master of everything.
Track Listing
Fish Market; Round Midnight; Lush Life; Mac Straight Ahead; Carol's Song; Strange Behavior; You're My Thrill; After You've Gone; The Good Life; Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.
Personnel
Mac Gollehon
trumpetMac Gollehon: trumpet, trombone; Sam Burtis: bass trombone; Victor Lewis: drums; Warren Smith: drums; Jun Saito: drums; Ron Cuber: baritone saxophone; Greg Kogan: organ; Ron McLure: bass.
Album information
Title: Mac Straight Ahead | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Self Produced