Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » The Ryan Oliver Quartet: Strive!
The Ryan Oliver Quartet: Strive!
ByOn Strive!, Lewis, Oliver, and two of the saxophonist's hometown collaboratorsbassist Alex Coleman and pianist Gary Williamsontake a trip through nine originals. The quartet kicks things off with the title track, an up-tempo swinger that gives Oliver and Lewis a chance to trade. Rubato romancing comes next, as "Thousand Miles" touches on John Coltrane-esque daydreaming, but strict time is back when "Eddie" arrives; that tune, with its funky underpinnings and irresistible groove, must take its name from saxophonist Eddie Harris.
Lewis ushers in "Victory," providing a spark of excitement that lights everybody up, but the next number"For You"is all about Oliver. This ballad, capped off with a beautiful cadenza from the saxophonist, is a real treat. A NOLA-infused blues comes next, followed by "Less Travelled," which finds Lewis in Elvin Jones mode at first. The album then comes to its conclusion with the waltzing-and-driving "Taurus" and the subdued-but-grooving "Ready Roll."
Oliver's middleweight tenor soundnot small at all, and not too big and brawnyis forward and direct. He's not an aggressive player per se, but he's an assured and engaging improvisor with plenty to say that's worth hearing. Strive! certainly testifies to that fact.
Track Listing
Strive!; Thousand Miles; Eddie; Victory; For You; Crescent City Stomp; Less Traveled; Taurus; Ready Roll.
Personnel
Ryan Oliver
saxophone, tenorRyan Oliver: tenor saxophone; Victor Lewis: drums; Gary Williamson: piano; Alex Coleman: bass.
Album information
Title: Strive! | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Self Produced
< Previous
May 2014
Next >
Mother's Touch
Comments
About Ryan Oliver
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
Related Articles | Concerts | Albums | Photos | Similar To