CD Reviews: The Carl Saunders Exploration..The Lost Bill Holman Charts.. Mama
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Posted by: editoron Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 04:23 PM |
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John Gilbert
Records 2007
Personnel: Carl Saunders, trumpet / flugelhorn, Pete Christlieb, tenor
sax, Andy Martin, trombone, Bob Efford, baritone sax, Christian Jacob,
piano, Kevin Axt, bass, Santo Savino, drums and special guest Sam Most,
flute and baritone sax.
Carl Saunders has always been an explorer in the sense that he plumbs
the depths of every tune that he plays or arranges.
Ted Richardson, a saxophonist friend of Saunders mentioned that 20 years
ago Bill Holman had written some charts for him that somehow never came
to fruition and the charts had lain dormant for twenty years. Saunders
had performed with the Holman band in 1984 and was intrigued by this
turn of events and after viewing the charts decided to go into the
studio and record.. There are eleven tracks on this album including one
("The Hook") that was a Saunders original. Saunders knew that several of
the musicians that he chose for this project had played with the Holman
band at various times. Being a friend and admirer of Bill Holman,
Saunders recorded this body of work, and these arrangements once again
saw the light of day and burst upon the scene like an aurora borealis.
"Three Little Words" comes on like Man O War and Saunders rides this
tune like a champ. Andy Martin's trombone solo is neck and neck with
Saunders and both reach the finish line in a dead heat.
"Primrose Path" is a ballad with melodious beauty nudged along with
Saunders Fluglehorn and extended runs that leave the listener breathless
instead of Carl Saunders. Sam Most's bari lends more magic to an already
spellbinding track.
"Dearly Beloved" Pete Christlieb is featured on tenor and his soliloquy
romps through this Kern classic as slick as a schoolboy's sleeve. The
band drives and Christlieb gets it all with a torrent of notes. This
tune swings and then some.
"The Hook" is a Carl Saunders original that struts and sashays along
behind this trumpeter's melodic solo and inventive. passages. Saunders
sobriquet should be "Edison" because there are few soloists with his
ideation. Christian Jacob flying fingers, at the piano, add the final
exclamation point.
"Hannibal" is a Holman original. Carl Saunders' prowess is in full bloom
with another blistering solo. Andy Martin is brilliant in his time at
bat. Sam Most's patented solo is a work of art, albeit brief.
This album has it all, rock solid arrangements, the top soloists in the
business, tunes that are gems and with Carl Saunders at the helm it gets
right to the heart of hip.
Santo Savino on drums is time personified, Axt on bass matches Savino's
mastery in the rhythm section. All in all this project has been a long
time coming but now that it's here, it ain't going nowhere except into
the ear and soul of the discerning listener.
There is an old expression in jazz (comparing talent) and it goes "Five
dollars don't hang around with two" and the virtuosity and artistry of
Carl Saunders is certainly apropos to that ancient bon mot. Saunders is
the 'sine qua non'
of trumpeters on the jazz scene. He stands alone.
This album is the essential statement of Bill Holman and Carl Saunders.
And that's bankable.
5 Stars
Visit California Coast Jazz At:
http://community-2.webtv.net/johnnyjazz/johnnyjazzsjazzpage
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