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Steve Slagle: Ballads: Into the Heart of it
ByThe album features a mix of originals and classics, among them, Tadd Dameron's "If You Could See Me Now," the Wood/Mellin composition "My One and Only Love" and the Miles Davis / Bill Evans standard "Blue in Green." Not wanting to make another "traditional ballads recording where everything sounds the same," Slagle painted new colors on an old canvas and designed new originals with new textures.
The music opens with "Blue in Green," providing a fresh new twist on an oft recorded tune offering a bit of emotion on the alto while being well-accompanied by longtime friend Richard Sussman's synthesizer orchestrations. The leader delivers a beautiful new treatment of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's "Le Sucrier Velours (Queen Suite)" featuring pianist Bruce Barth and soft brush work from drummer Jason Tiemann.
Trumpeter Randy Brecker lends a hand on Thelonious Monk's "Reflections" as the two legends offer delicate call and respond moments on this slow burner. The duo joins forces again on Slagle's title track accompanied by the drummer and pianist in delivering special moments, making this track one to sample often. The last Brecker collaboration as guest comes on the finale original, "Big Mac," one of the meatier tunes with quite a swing to it (not sounding much like a ballad, which is presumably why it's a bonus track).
Also not to be overlooked are "Si, See," "If You Could See Me Now," "The Four Margarets," and "Kiss Lonely Goodbye. Saxophonist Steve Slagle continues to produce some of the finest jazz music on the planet and Ballads: Into the Heart of it shines a new light on his softer side.
Track Listing
Blue in Green; Le Sucrier Velours (Queen's Suite); Reflections; My One and Only Love; The Heart of It; Kiss Lonely Goodbye; Si, See; If You Could See Me Now; The Four Margarets; Big Mac.
Personnel
Additional Instrumentation
Richard Sussman: synth orchestrations and drum programming (1, 4, 9); Randy Brecker: trumpet (3, 5, 10).
Album information
Title: Into the Heart of it | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Panorama Records
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About Steve Slagle
Instrument: Saxophone, alto
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