Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ben Schachter: Trio of Many

194

Ben Schachter: Trio of Many

By

Sign in to view read count
Ben Schachter: Trio of Many
Philadelphia, Pa. has been producing fine prizefighters, jazz musicians, and scrumptious cheesesteaks for years! And while we focus our attention to the arts, saxophonist/composer/educator Ben Schachter represents yet another impressive exponent of Philly’s long standing lineage of musicians who often possess signature sounds and styles. - A characteristic which is significant when considering the glut of CDs being released by folks with marginal talent, who can afford a medium priced digital mixer/recorder, a few decent mic’s and do-it-yourself mastering software.

Schachter’s broad toned, sweeping tenor sax lines come to prominence on Trio of Many, as the artist receives exemplary support from bassist Micah Jones and drummer Erik Johnson while renowned guitarist and fellow Philadelphian, Jef Lee Johnson joins for a dual bass attack on “NeoMetaPhysical. And besides Schachter’s wonderful improvising skills and rippling choruses, the saxophonist also exhibits a knack for churning out Bop-ish grooves, with memorable hooks via his fertile notions and near flawless phraseology. More importantly, Schachter’s swing-based mechanisms and springy motifs provide heaps of excitement and suspense, further enhanced by Erik Johnson’s robust polyrhythmic fury, which is evident from the onset of the bouncy, “A Giant Among Us” and the mid-tempo burner, “Tiny Minds”. Schachter’s lyrically rich treatment of Monk’s “Light Blue”, provides a loose foundation for Jones and Erik Johnson’s alternating rhythmic structures amid the saxophonist’s articulate implementations of semitones, and shrewd utilization of space. Overall, Trio of Many is a live wire, teeming with oscillating undercurrents, explosive interplay and attractive compositions! Hence, an indispensable addition to this writer’s modern jazz collection. Strongly recommended.

Cadence North Country Distribution

Track Listing

A Giant Among Us, Blues Agora, Is, Not Is, Retrograde Promenade, Tiny Minds,

Personnel

Ben Schachter
saxophone, tenor

Ben Schachter; saxophones: Micah Jones; bass: Erik Johnson; drums: Jef Lee Johnson; bass guitar (1 track)

Album information

Title: Trio of Many | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Ben-Jam Music

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create 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.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve 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.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.