Once upon a time the jazz world was filled with “guns for hire” like tenor saxist and flutist Don Braden. Guys like David “Fathead” Newman, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis or Gene Ammons..big toned guys that knew how to swing and make a session or group a bit more lively. Nowadays, these blowers with bop in their blood seem to be falling from natural selection, as more atonal and “edgy” players seem to be in vogue. This album shows the why the venerable sideman (and occasional leader) has played along with Wynton Marsalis, Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard and Tony Williams.
His own band, the Organix Quartet includes Kyle Koehler/B3, Dave Stryker/g (who’s put out some hot albums recently as well) and Cecil Brooks III/dr. A smoking revamp of “Giant Steps” is transfigured it his own clever “Lulminosity” while “Bud Powell” is another hip little bopper. His sound on the tenor here is a delight, but nothing prepares you for his unaccompanied take of “Chelsea Bridge” which rolls in like a London Fog and never abates. It’s a wonderfully bel canto aria. On flute he is delightful on the joyful “Do You Love Me” and moves it up a notch on the optimistic read of the tune from Alladin “A Whole New World.” Claudio Roditi adds his warm trumpet on the peppy “I Could Write A Book” and Sherman Irby his alto to create a nice front line on a soulful read of Herbie Hancock’s “Driftin’” closing this hghly successful session on a winning note. Gotta love this guy!
Creative Perspective Music