Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Gian Tornatore: Sink or Swim

Gian Tornatore: Sink or Swim

By Florence Wetzel
March 26, 2005
View read count

Sink or Swim features saxophonist Gian Tornatore's fine tenor and soprano saxophone work along with excellent support from Jon Anderson on piano and Fender Rhodes, Zach Wallmark on bass, and David Christian on drums. Tornatore's tone is clear as a bell and his compositions display a quiet intelligence that's refreshing to behold.

The CD is composed of six songs by Tornatore, plus Miles Davis' "Nardis" and—why not?—Chopin's Prelude in C Minor (Op. 28, No. 20). The highlights include Tornatore's "Three's a Crowd"; the melody line is lovely, lilting with a tinge of melancholy and Tornatore's playing moves from gentle and fluid to loose and swinging.

"Nardis" is another gem, a tribute to Davis which features tempo changes and a deeply swinging rhythm section. The Fender Rhodes is a nod to Davis' groundbreaking use of the electric piano, and Tornatore's solo work is intricate and inspired.

While Tornatore's saxophone propels Sink or Swim, credit must also be given to Anderson, Wallmark, and Christian. Their cohesive playing is essential to establishing the CD's low-key groove, which sets up Tornatore perfectly. Altogether the group combines serious chops with deeply felt expression, making Sink or Swim yet another fine addition to the Fresh Sound New Talent catalogue.

Track Listing

For RPMS; Heaven's Dew; San Francisco Style; Prelude in C Minor, Op. 28, No. 20; Upstate; Lotus; Three's A Crowd; Nardis.

Personnel

Gian Tornatore

saxophone

David Christian

drums

Zach Wallmark

bass

Gian Tornatore: Tenor & Soprano Saxophone; Jon Anderson: Piano & Fender Rhodes.

Album information

Title: Sink or Swim | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Fresh Sound New Talent

PREVIOUS / NEXT

I Remember Front Street
< Previous

The Current Underneath
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.