If you listen to any amount of modern sax players, you know that almost every one has been imbibing from the wells of John Coltrane. If not him, then a few old school guys go back to pre-Trane to Rollins, Young or Ben Webster. The one tenor saxist from the past that few people count as an influence is West Coast-Cool School visionary Warne Marsh, who was best known for his association with Lennie Tristano, but carved out his own niche with a unique, distinct and still swinging style that is rarely taken up by sax artists.
Until this guy John Petrucelli came along. He’s got a muscular sound on the horn, and has enthusiastically taken up the serpentine style of soloing patented by Marsh. On this double cd, he teams up with Peter Park/g,Victor Gould/p, Alex Claffy/b, Gusten Rudolph/d and for a few tracks drumming legend Victor Lewis shows up for some extra octane. Petrucelli shows his muscle on the charging read of “I Hear A Rhapsody” and glows like a sunset on the red skied “Early Autumn” with Lewis. Lewis adds some exciting sounds on “The Flip” as well, while the regular rhythm team shuffles along with Park as the sparks fly on “Prism.” The dramatic “Moment of Grace” is a highlight, with Gould dancing with Claffy underneath the hard hitting tenor, while things get fun for Park and Petrucelli on “Gallop’s Gallop.” This whole team sounds confident, macho and enthused. They get you excited with their excitement!