The rotating team of the SF Jazz Collective has released some creative “tribute” albums, focusing on artists such as Joe Henderson. This time around the all star group focuses on Michael Jackson, and present his music along some originals to a concert setting .
You can’t complain about a unit like Miguel Zenon/as, David Sanchez/ts, Sean Jones/tp, Robin Eubanks/tb, Warren Wolf/vib and a rhythm section of Edward Simon/p, Matt Penman/b and Obed Calvaire/dr. Zenon’s own “Fall Prelude” spotlights his passionate alto while Jones’ tone is gloriously warm on “Franklin & Fall.” All these and the Gloved One’s-associated songs are richly arranged and sophisticatedly put together. That may be the actual weak link, as while Calvaire keeps hitting the drums hard to get the soul into the material, pieces like “Rock With You” and even “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” are so polished and sleek that the celebration of the material is stripped away, making you wonder if these gents have actually ever danced to his music. Not until the final song, “This Place Hotel” does the groove get funky enough to make you want to do a moon walk, or at least wear a hat.
SF Jazz Records