Between 1995 and 2004, Detroit saxophonist
James Carter
released several conceptual discs: a salute to
Django Reinhardt
(
Chasin' the Gypsy
), electric-era
Miles Davis
Layin' in the Cut
),
jazz
ballads
Real Quiet Storm
), and a lush
Billie Holiday
tribute (
Gardenias for Lady Day
). With the release of each disc, the unavoidable question remained: would
Carter
ever put out another straight-ahead session in the vein of his early-'90s recordings
JC on the Set
and
Jurassic Classics
? Happily,
Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge
makes up for lost time.
and an amazing array of musicians took flight for three nights in June 2001 at
Baker's
in Detroit, featuring guest appearances by
David Murray
Johnny Griffin
alongside fellow Motor City natives
Franz Jackson
,
Kenny Cox
Dwight Adams
Larry Smith
, and
Gerard Gibbs
. On this set
frequently switches reeds, easily juggling tenor, soprano, and baritone saxophones, while his rock-solid rhythm section of bassist
Ralphe Armstrong
and the split drumming duties of
Leonard King
and the late
Funk Brother
Richard "Pistol" Allen
(who passed away in 2002) keep the music simmering until the heat rises once again.
's choice of cover material is impeccable and well balanced. Instead of lazily strolling through the same old tried and true
standards
and songbooks,
and associates re-ignite tunes from the pen of
Oscar Pettiford
"Tricotism"
Jimmy Forrest
"Soul Street"
Eddie Harris
"Freedom Jazz Dance"
), and
Don Byas
"Free and Easy"
), before slowing the tempo on
"I Can't Get Started,"
"Low Flame,"
"Sack Full of Dreams,"
culminating with the four-tenor blowout of
George Duvivier
's
"Foot Pattin'."
The only time the train jumps the tracks is during
"Soul Street."
Organist
Gibbs
uses a synthesized, sampled vocal section that sounds like a mechanical
Swingle Singers
. The technology itself may be intriguing, but the results are completely out of place in this context.
finds
cutting loose like a musician who's been conceptually sidetracked long enough. This is a back to basics blowing session and concepts be damned! ~ Al Campbell