(Ben Wolfe, bass; Marcus Strickland, tenor and soprano sax; Luis Perdomo, piano; Greg Hutchinson, drums – with special guests Terell Stafford, trumpet; Jeff “Tain” Watts, drums; Victor Goines, bass clarinet; Branford Marsalis, tenor and soprano sax; plus string section)
I plead “the fifth” in my review of Ben Wolfe’s new CD on MaxJazz. When I saw the line-up of established first rate sidemen – many group leaders of major renown – i.e. Branford Marsalis, Terell Stafford, and Marcus Strickland – I had expectations of a potential “Best of 2008 List” session. Ben Wolfe is a major talent on bass and a very creative composer, who is well-respected as first-rate bowman. The inclusion of a string section even jacked up my hopes of a major release.
The finished product has much to recommend itself – the title track’s sweet strings and ballad motif as well as Milo’s soulful solo by Marsalis on soprano sax, an instrument where Branford really shines and again great backing by the strings. Pianist Perdomo’s excellent piano work on No Pat No makes him one to watch in the future. Blue Envy is one of the strongest tracks with Victor Goines magnificent bass clarinet blend with the strings. Dependable Terell Stafford’s playing on the closer Groovy Medium is such a pleasure. As you can see plenty of raves can be made.
It’s just that the weakest tracks are the longest and the major disappointments – The Minnick Rule, The Filth, and Rosy and Zero. They are rather dull, rambling, boring and full of noodling. One can’t ask for a perfect CD every time to review. No Strangers Here had such potential that its final product as a whole just fails to meet the CD that could have been. Its failings, however, could just be a fault of unmet expectations and that the problem may be mine. Hardcore fans of the talented Wolfe may find much to recommend its purchase. For me, I’ll wait with anticipation for his next effort.
Tracklist: The Minick Rule, No Strangers Here, Milo, No Pat No, The Filth, Circus, Blue Envy, Rosy and Zero, Jackie Mac, Groovy Medium
– Jeff Krow
