Not long after saxophonists
Dick Oatts
and
Rich Perry
joined
the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra
, pianist
Harold Danko
(who was already in the band) was very impressed with their abilities, and he began to conceive of a record date featuring both men by the early '80s, though it wouldn't come to fruition for another quarter century. Together with his regular rhythm section (bassist
Michael Formanek
and drummer
Jeff Hirschfield
), they dove headfirst into a date featuring
Danko
's intriguing arrangements. The tense, extended workout of
"Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise"
(the session's only
standard
) finds both
Oatts
(alto) and
Perry
(tenor) departing from conventional approaches and engaging in a live series of exchanges with the leader.
John Coltrane
's
"Like Sonny"
(one of his less frequently performed works) lets the quintet reveal its possibilities.
Horace Silver
's dreamy
ballad
"Peace"
Thelonious Monk
's snappy
"I Mean You"
also are in good hands, with fine solos all around. It's only natural that the group would explore some of the repertoire of the
Jones
/
Lewis
band, with a spirited interpretation of
' well-named
blues
"Don't Get Sassy"
and the cheerful, loping
"Evol Deklaw Ni."
The pianist's one original of the date is the brisk
"Tidal Breeze,"
providing a brief showcase for
Formanek
and highlighted by the saxophonist's adventurous solos. This rewarding CD is well worth investigating. ~ Ken Dryden