Eric Alexander – Temple of Olympic Zeus – High Note

by | Oct 16, 2007 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

Eric Alexander – Temple of Olympic Zeus – High Note  HCD 7172, 56:31 ****1/2:

(Eric Alexander, tenor sax; Jim Rotondi, trumpet/ flugelhorn; David Hazeltine, piano; Nat Reeves, bass; Joe Farnsworth, drums)

Eric Alexander on the tenor saxophone is as prolific as Bill Charlap is on piano. Both are consummate first call sidemen for others but true leaders-Alexander, not yet 40, but already has around 20 CDs under his belt as session leader. Both are experienced enough to be miles ahead of most of their contemporaries, and true journeymen in all the best jazz sense. They represent the best of this music’s future. Surrounding themselves with only top rated players, and having impeccable taste in song selection, their presence is a reminder that as our old time jazz masters pass away, that they have left America’s true classical music, jazz, ready to continue the tradition that their idols left.

Eric Alexander’s new High Note release has the benefit of Eric’s long association with recording mates, Jim Rotondi, David Hazeltine, and Joe Farnsworth, as well as the services of THE master recording engineer, Rudy Van Gelder, who also handles mastering duties.

Song selection on this CD is the right mix of  three originals, with a balance of bebop, standards, and soul. The title cut gets the session off to a roaring start with both Alexander and Rotondi dominant. The soul pop of Someday We’ll All Be Free helps Alexander show off his muscular old school chops. Dave’s System brings to mind the band member’s side project hard bop group, One for All. Leonard Bernstein’s Some Other Time never disappoints in the right hands and Alexander and Company do it proud. Other winning tracks include Blues for David, Lucas Too, and the closer, I’ll Keep Loving You. Hazeltine and Rotondi also ably contribute as expected by their 20-year tenure with Eric.

Alexander states in the liner notes that this is his best recording as a leader. As an avid Alexander fan, that is hard to quantify, but certainly Temple of Olympic Zeus belongs in any Eric Alexander collection.

Tracklist: The Temple of Olympic Zeus, Someday We’ll All Be Free, Dave’s System, Some Other Time, Blues For David, Lucas Too, I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life, I’ll Keep Loving You

– Jeff Krow

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