Frank Macchia: Saxolollapalooza

Macchia's dream has come true with Saxolollapalooza, an equably delightful session starring Macchia, ace drummer Peter Erskine and a group of woodwind all-stars from the Los Angeles area—Eric Marienthal, Sal Lozano, Bob Sheppard, Gene Cipriano and Jay Mason. Having chosen his partners carefully, Macchia does the same with his material, which canvasses well-known songs from Benny Goodman's "Air Mail Special," Juan Tizol's "Caravan," the Dixie evergreen "That's A-Plenty" and Nat Adderley's "Work Song" to the time-honored themes "Down by the Riverside," "Shortening Bread" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." Rounding out the program are the standard "My One and Only Love," Michael Jackson's funky "Working Day and Night," Duke Ellington's sonorous "Creole Love Song," the Al Hirt hit "Java" and Macchia's New Orleans-shaped "Bluesalicious!"

While there are solos on every number (as able as one could wish), the emphasis is on the ensemble and Macchia's sophisticated and exotic charts, which wrest as much color and dynamics as one could envision from a six-member reed section. As for Erskine, he performs his duties as "rhythm section" with characteristic style and poise, moving easily from samba to funk, swing to ballad. Tempos are often challenging but Macchia seldom strays far from the basic melody.

Those who have heard Macchia on record before should be well-prepared to expect the unexpected. Those who haven't may rest assured that his musicality and that of his teammates is beyond reproach, and that Saxolollapalooza is brisk and refreshing from end to end.

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