This might be the breakthrough album in which we finally appreciate tenor saxist JD Allen’s tone. He mixes an old school fog reminiscent of Ben Webster with a modern harmonic sense, and with this set of ballads and slow tempo’d rendition of standards with Liberty Elman/g, Gregg August/b and Rudy Royston/dr, he delivers a complete environment of glorious melancholy.
While including key lyrics to each song in the liner notes, Allen lets his breathy subtones do the work, going bel canto on “Until The Real Thing Comes Along” or sighing in reflection with Elman on “You’re My Thrill.” He heaves ho like Dexter Gordon with a succinct “Prisoner of Love” and oozes out like a lava lamp for “Come All Ye A Fair and Tender Ladies,” displaying a vibrato that you could park a Buick in while Royston and August add fragrant drapery on “Why Was I Born?”. Even “Put On A Happy Face” is delivered with thick resignation, with each note dripping out like sap from a Vermont Sugar Maple.
Savant Records