Tenor saxist possesses one of the best tones on his horn, and best of all, he knows how to use it. Tenor saxes were made for the 4 Bs; blues, ballads, bossas and boppers. All of them show up here with Alexander and his company of Harold Mabern/p, John Webber/b and Joe Farnsworth/dr and it works like peanut butter and jelly.
Alexander gives a tip of the hat to Coltrane’s influence on a swinging “The Night Has A Thousand Eyes” which has Farnsworth riding the ride cymbal like a hummingbird. Alexander blows warm fluffy puffs on the samba tune “ Little Boat” and the calming “Sleep Warm” has Alexander rolling in like the fog in Morro Bay. Guitar legend Pat Martino pops in for a few songs, and bends his strings till then moan on the bluesy “Pure Pat,” while “Summertime” has razor sharp solos by the two lead instruments. Mabern is his usually tasteful self on “The Real Thing” as well as the snappy closer “The Chief,” with Martino and Alexander flexing their muscles in tandem. Chalk up another keeper in Alexander’s growing catalogue.
High Note Records