Alexander, Eric
High Note, 2019, CD
Instrument: Saxophone
Issue: 26.1
Jazz Ruler Type: BigBand
Performance: 4
Sound: 3
Score: 81
O’s Notes: Pairing jazz saxophonist Eric Alexander with Strings results in a luscious presentation of warm ballads. Dave Rivello conducts the 14-piece string orchestra with John Webber (b), Joe Farnsworth (d) and David Hazeltine (p). We liked “Dreamsville” and the melancholic sounds of “Lonely Woman” with a complimentary piano solo. The pace intensifies with Alexander swinging hard on “Slow Hot Wind”. The sax/string textures are rarely combined to this level of satisfaction. Alexander gives us only a brief sampling of 36 minutes and we savored every bit of it!
Publicist: Jazz Depot