Tenor saxist JD Allen continues advancing forward in his solo career. This time out he forms a trio with Rudy Royston/dr and Gregg August for some “musings on jazz and blues.” Allen’s tone has imbibed the mid to late period Coltrane sound, so there is a sandied quality to his delivery of the laconic “Tell The Truth, Shame the Devil”
The team shows it knows how to bear down on the deep and fiery “Sugar Free” but seems to veer toward to more loose moods as with August’s bass keeping everyone together on the bluesy “Cotton” and Royston’s elastic wrist work on “Another Man Done Gone.” Allen’s tenor cries on the laconic title track, but as with all things with the tenor sax, ballads work best, and the leader is at his strongest with the warm “When You’re Lonesome You’re Not Alone.” Mostly frisky, but also able to be fervent.
Savant Records