This would appear to be the record that Grossman has been threatening to make for the past decade. Recent releases have placed too much stress on trying to assimilate the Sonny Rollins style and method of performance and, as Barry McRae pointed out in his April 1994 review of a Grossman disc ‘his sessions in the recent past have sounded ill-prepared’. Not so in this well-balanced, seemingly well-rehearsed programme.
Riding on top of a near flawless rhythm section, Grossman spins out long, well-constructed lines and demonstrates many different samples of emotion-charged storytelling. Beautifully executed notes are juxtaposed with gritty, coarse phrases in a very original version of I’m Confessin’; an unlikely vehicle at first glance.
The rise and fall of Jones’s dynamic shading perfectly complements the lyrical flourishes of Harrell’s trumpet and Grossman’s roaring, throaty tenor choruses. Willy Pickens’ chiming, melodic piano gives this music a third contrast and a delicacy it might otherwise have lacked. He is a unique pianist with a sure and strong touch and I hope we will hear more of his work in the future. McBee propels the group along in cahoots with Elvin, utilising a fine muscular tone.
Occasional growls and squeals from Grossman seem appropriate to the expression of the moment and his choppy, staccato delivery now appears to be representative of his own manner of playing. The jousting cut and thrust of the tenorist’s bouts with Jones suits both of them and produces stirring, broiling jazz. This is varied, propulsive music, full-blooded, contemporary and thoroughly recommended.
Discography
475 Central Park West; Circus; I’m Confessin’; Extemporaneous; This Time The Dream’s On Me; Time To Smile; Till There Was You; E.J.’s Blues (60.16)
Steve Grossman (ts); Tom Harrell (t, flh); Willy Pickens (p); Cecil McBee (b); Elvin Jones (d). NYC, February 12, 1993.
(Dreyfus FDM 365662)
