Even if you’re really into sax players, like I am, you’ve probably never heard of this guy Dave McMurray. He’s been a sideman for a long list of artists like BB King, The Rolling Stones, Herbie Hancock and even Bootsy Collins. This album, with all of the songs between 4-5 minutes, has him in essentially a trio setting with Ibrahim Jones/b or Ron Otis-Jeff Canady/dr. Let me tell you something, THIS GUY IS AN ANIMAL!!
He’s got a strong, muscular and macho sound that mixes the R&B soul of an Earl Bostic or Red Allen with a swinging jazz pulse a la Sonny Rollins. He’s howling at the moon with snappy drums and is so deep in the pocket on songs like “Naked Walk” or the funky “Bop City” that you’re going to have to dig deep to find him! He is so hip as he slithers on “Time #5” that you’re going to need a chiropractor to fix him, while he rolls in like a London Fog on “Seven Nation Army.” The drummers are a mix between free form Beaver Harris and the Grambling College half time show, snapping to attention on “Detroit Theme/Detroit 3” and mixing high hat and hand claps on the wailing title track.
McMurray is also able to get romantic, yet still with wild abandon on the opening solo cadenza on “Que Je T’Aime” while able to do the Funky Chicken on “Atomic Dog.” Who let him off his leash?!?
Album of the year?
Blue Note Records