Back in the day, only the most adventurous saxists dared to go the pianoless trio format. Here are two gents that rush in where angels fear to tread, and come out looking pretty good.
Gavin Templeton teams up with Rich Giddens/b and Gene Coye/dr for an impressive collection of originals that emphasized team work. Giddens gets room to create a riff to thrive onduring “Around Arroyo” and teams up with Coye to lay out a deep groove for Templeton’s warm alto on “Exit Row.” A bit of Mid East flavor is felt on the intricate “There You Go Again/Tooth and Nail” while a clippety clop flavor keeps things jumping on “Secrets.” Templeton lets his horn glow with luminescence on the ballad “Not Tonight” and the team sounds sleek and bluesy on “Exit Row Reprise.” Who needs overly stated chords?
Dmitry Baevsky teams up with David Wong/b and Joe Strasser/dr for a mix of intriguing jazz covers as well as originals here. Baevsky has a lower tone, almost like a tenor at times, as well as a bel canto vibrato that he likes to flick around at just the right time as on the flowing “Poinciana” and the glowing “Reflection.” He does some nice duet work with Wong during “Stranger in Paradise” and “Turquoise” while Starsser’s busy-ness under “Circus” and hectic rustling underneath the leader on “Over and Out” serve as white water caps in which the alto swoops over to find his prey. The songs have a concise feel to them, never indulging and emphasizing the lyrical. Impressive outing.
Orenda Records
Jazz Family Records