Once upon a time, tenor saxes sounded like…well, tenor saxes! Rich, thick and breathy and under the influence of Lester Young and eventually Stan Getz, they eventually ran into the onslaught of John Coltrane’s “sheets of sound” and got trampled on in the stampede, leaving us with today’s cacophony of storm and thunder, signifying nothing. Here are two overlooked tenor titans of a previous generation that deserve a second listen.
Brew Moore was born and raised in Mississippi, but eventually moved to Europe where he spent a large part of his career. He had a tone and style highly similar to the Stan Getz-Zoot Sims school of swing, as this collection of 1961 concert recordings in Stockholm and Paris attest. The former gig has him with Lars Bagge/p, Lars Petterson/b and William Schiuppfe/dr with the team bopping through Charlie Parker’s “Buzzy” seamlessly swinging into the cool on Gerry Mulligan’s “Apple Core” and stretching out on “Five Planets In Leo.” The Paris event has him with all-star drummer Kenny Clarke as well as organ-meister Lou Bennett and Jimmy Gourley/g as they hit hard on “Broadway,” and swing with style and grace on “Satin Doll.” Moore delivers a rich aria on “Zonky” while “Ergo” includes NHOP’s bass to exquisite delight. The tenor sax at its warmest.
Hans Koller was one of the key modern European saxists, and while not making a big name for himself in America, was highly successful and respected in his home continent. He toured with Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Konitz, Benny Goodman and Stan Kenton, just to give a hint of his versatility. This album has him in a variety of settings ranging from a rich larger ensemble on “Lonely” to a wildly percussive and Ellingtonian “Hard Bop For Hartung.” Pianist Karlanns Berger gets the spotlight on a swinging small group “Homer’s Concept” while the leader veers t hroguh a punctuated “Indiana” and swaing “Remember” with aplomb. This material sounds absolutely marvelous and as fresh as 5am baked rolls.