Groove Note - GRV1010-45 - 180 Gram Virgin Vinyl - 6603181
Mastered by Bernie Grundman - 45RPM - Limited Edition
The audio quality of Moodsville is superior. The sonic facets and rich tones are captured vibrantly on 45 r.p.m. vinyl. Bernie Grundman’s skillful mastering connects the live performance energy to advanced studio technology. The stereo separation is impeccable and the individual instrumentation is rendered with crispness and specific detail. Drum brushes, backing double bass lines are vibrant. Wallace’s tenor is full-bodied and sharp. This album swings and sounds great – Audiophile Audition
This latest album from tenor saxophonist Bennie Wallace (ex-Audioquest and Enja Records and a familiar audiophile artist) is one of his finest and most lyrical sessions to date.
Recorded direct to 2-track at Systems 2 in New York in May the session features some of the hottest jazz musicians currently working in the US: Mulgrew Miller (piano), PeterWashington (bass) and Lewis Nash (drums).
The sound and feel of the album is very close to that of the great Moodsville and Prestige recordings of the 50s and 60s featuring artists like Gene Ammons. This album is a tribute tothose great recordings; hence the title. There are stunning versions of 'April In Paris,' 'A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing' and 'When A Man Loves A Woman.'
Bennie Wallace is unlike any tenor saxophonist, often alternating between a soulful, fat tone (which is very similar to Ben Webster's approach) and sudden unpredictable jumps (no doubt inspired by alto saxophonist Eric Dolphy). Joined by an outstanding rhythm section consisting of pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Lewis Nash, Wallace explores favorites from the swing and bop eras, with his bandmates providing a solid anchor underneath his flights. Two gems from the pen of Billy Strayhorn, the rhapsodic "My Little Brown Book" and the fragile ballad "A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing," stand in a class by themselves with Wallace's fresh interpretations.
Both theLatin-flavored arrangement of "Love for Sale" and Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma" pack a powerful punch, while "Milestones" (the earlier one which Miles Davis recorded for Savoy, though it was actually composed by John Lewis) takes a far more adventurous route than typically heard. This excellent session demonstrates a mature artist with a very distinct sound, which should be the ultimate goal of every jazz musician. .
This highly recommended LPis one of Bennie Wallace's best sessions of his long, very fruitful career.
This is the kind of beautiful, smoky, full bodied and ballad-filled tenor sax album that audiophiles will love!
Musicians:
Bennie Wallace, saxophone
Mulgrew Miller, piano
Peter Washington, bass
Lewis Nash, drums
Track Listing:
1. I'll Never Smile Again
2. Con Alma
3. April In Paris
4. Milestones
5. When A Man Loves A Woman
6. Love For Sale
7. My Little Brown Book
8. I Concentrate On You
9. A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing
