It’s records like this that make you realize not only how much you miss a trumpeter like Woody Shaw, but how much you miss the attitude that he represented in jazz. Keeping with tradition, but taking it to its next step. No gimmicks, no tricks, just a great tone and unbelievable chops while he performed his own well thought out compositions. Enough to satisfy the heart, head and feet. What a concept!
On this collection of previously released material of concert material from San Francisco’s Keystone Korner, Shaw mixes and matches with a basic rhythm team of Larry Willis/p (except for 1 track), Stafford James/b and Victor Lewis/dr that can explode like a fire engine as on “Stepping Stone” or groove with a blues feel as on “Rahsaan’s Run.” On the former, Carter Jefferson’s soprano bursts through the ozone layer, while Steve Turre’s trombone charges like a wild bull on the latter. Shaw himself is as deft as a master magician, making notes and sounds come out of nowhere at the snap of his fingers on the quartet “Little Red’s Fantasy” or make inanimate objects come to life on the wild and wooly “OPEC.” The energy bursting forth on this man’s horn forces you to sit down and take notice. This is not background music, but sounds that come right at you and demand you to deal with it. Excitement that inspires.
High Note Records