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Tim Price's new release "Passion Sax" tells the whole story in its title. It is an album full of the joy of playing at the top of one's game. The album swings from start to finish, and when it's over you are compelled to play it again. The opening tune, Cedar Walton's "Bolivia", belies its difficulty with swinging, lyrical solos from Price, pianist Eddie Green, guitarist Pat Columbus and drummer Don Scott. It's followed by the standard "If I Should Lose You", featuring Tim on clarinet this time. The format of a tenor tune followed by a clarinet tune carries through the entire album, to great effect. Price's mastery of the tenor is impressive enough, but when you add his virtuosity on the clarinet, a difficult instrument that "was invented by three guys that didn't know each other", then he really rises above the fray. The ascending 4ths lick kills me, by the way. Back to tenor for his up-tempo arrangement of "Sweet Georgia Brown". The trombone of Alex Lawrence re-joins Price's tenor in the front line and finally gets to solo, so we can kneel down before him and say "we're not worthy"! The bone sounds good. Keep it in. Next tune: another Walton composition called "Midnight Waltz". This is a pretty blues waltz in C, and we hear the sonorous blend of Price's clarinet with Lawrence's trombone. "Combat Zone", a Price original, is a shuffle blues complete with breaks. The rhythmic concept pays tribute to Benny Golson's "Blues March". Lawrence distinguishes himself on plunger, with a nod to sort-of namesake Lawrence Brown in his funky solo. The passion continues with a jaunt through the Jobim classic "No More Blues". Clarinet players might as well shoot themselves right now. After I finish this review, I'll be looking for my bullets. Just when you think you can't take any more excitement, the album winds down to a goodnight kiss with "You've Changed", bringing Price back with a classic and original tenor statement, accompanied by an obbligato from Lawrence. Mention must be made of Arthur Harper on bass and Don Scott on drums, driving this bus throughout all its swing, Latin, shuffle and Brazilian grooves, keeping it in the pocket at all times. As the blurb on the inside cover says, "Passion. . . for the history, for the music, for the horn. . .is what drives us." This is evident in the stellar performance captured here on disc. If a satisfying Jazz meal needs swing, soul, solo stories, pretty notes and harmonic depth, then "Passion Sax" will fill you up. Warning: an hour later you might still be hungry. For more Passion Sax. |
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