Search - One for All, Eric Alexander :: Upward & Onward

Hard Bop Done to Perfection

jerseymick | NJ United States | 01/09/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Venturing into the City (New York, of course!)one night last year in search of some tight, hard-bop jazz, I found myself at the hip Jazz Standard club. Having been a jazz fan all my life yet not being familiar with the members of One for All, I was ready for anything. Well, suffice to say that I left the club that night with my copy of Upward and Onward in hand, thoroughly impressed with each and every member of this killer ensemble. From the opening track, "D's Blues" where composer and trumpeter Jim Rotondi leads the pack through a hot, frenetic tirade with dynamite solos by all the members, through to the captivating ode, "John Coltrain" where Eric Alexander's haunting tenor sax phrases steal the show, this disc captures 6 of today's best and brightest at their craft and rewards the listener with straight ahead bop jazz with a few surprises. Veteran Dave Hazeltine plays a commanding piano. One can pick up echos of a young Oscar Peterson in Hazeltine's chord progressions and timing. Peter Wahington's bass is stylish yet subdued. Joe Farnsworth rounds out the rhythm section with a tireless, gritty mastery of the drums. Veteran trombonist Steve Davis shows his versatility by effortlessly swaying between clean, melodic solos and full, rich support work which, quite often throughout this disc, makes the listener feel as if a much larger horn section is backing the group. Giving the whole group direction is the ultra-skilled trumpet and flugelhorn playing of Jim Rotondi. If you're already a be-bop or hard bop fan, or plan to be one, this release will be sure to please."