Here are a couple of tenor saxists that take post bop jazz into two different directions. When I first got into this music, I read a definition of jazz in the World Book Encyclopedia that basically said that jazz was defined by: a) swing b) syncopation c)improvisation d) the blues. One of these discs cuts the mustard, the other …
Michael Campagna teams up with Michael Rodriguez/tp, Robert Rodriguez/p, Hans Glawischnig/b, Eric Doob/dr and Brandee Younger/harp for a collection of fresh sounding originals. Most of the music here has a joyful and pastoral sound, with songs like “Summer Rain” and “Journeys” bouyantly traipsing along with graceful charm. Campagna’s tenor is warm and rich, as he displays on the ballad “Hope” while his flute work on “Bridges” is dreamlike. The addition of Younger’s harp is a real plus, adding celestial sounds to songs such as the pensive “Dear John” and “You Are All.” The rhythm team is lithe and supple, making this a winning session.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Masson teams up with Ben Monder/g, Patrice Moret/b and Ted Poor/dr for a collection of 9 originals that come across like an instrumental version of a Janice Ian recording. The entire mood here is melancholy and at times, like on ”The Slope,” almost funereal. There is a dreamy and almost desultory mood throughout, as on “Morbid and Delightful” or the brooding “Off Rhyme.” And while Monder’s guitar is impressive on the former, this disc can only be taken in small doses unless you’re away from sharp objects.
Challenge Records