Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » David Bixler: Show Me The Justice

214

David Bixler: Show Me The Justice

By

Sign in to view read count
David Bixler: Show Me The Justice
While not exactly breaking new ground, alto saxophonist David Bixler delivers a set of seven clever original compositions on Show Me The Justice. With a front line including guitarist John Hart and trumpeter Scott Wendholt, and a rhythm section including bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Andy Watson, Bixler examines the nooks and crannies of the post-bop tradition with a style that is spare and economical.

There is, in fact, a certain sense of directness about the whole recording. The New Yorker cut his teeth in larger groups with Lionel Hampton and Toshiko Akioshi, to name two, and while he has a greater opportunity to expand and expound upon his own material, there is a construction to his solos that can only come from years of working within the more rigid confines of big band charts.

In Hart and Wendholt, Bixler has found two sympathetic soloists who share his sense of economy. Wendholt stays, for the most part, in the middle register, and has a terrific ear for what is going on around him; his collaborative improvisation with Bixler on the title track demonstrates a mature player with an interest in creating an ensemble sound, rather than simply showing off how well he can play – which he can. Whether it is with his textural comping or fleet soloing, Hart shows a Jim Hall-like ability to get inside each piece and find its essence. His solo on the Spanish-tinged “Mentiras” alternates between rapid-fire lines and jagged chords.

Meanwhile Watson and Okegwo drive the set, whether lightly swinging on “How Did It Feel Like?”, where Okegwo gets to show his lyrical side in an all-too-short solo; funking things up on “Quack”; or burning things up on “Tenor Envy.” Bixler plays with a warm, robust tone on alto, and the ensemble passages with Wendholt create a texturally rich ambience. There is a level of comfort within the ensemble that would imply that this is not the first time they have worked together. Hart and Wendholt, in fact, worked with Bixler on his first solo outing, 2000’s Lost in Queens.

The compositions have an ability to sound somehow familiar, while at the same time new. Although Bixler works within a well-established tradition, Show Me The Justice is a captivating album of post-bop that should help win him some new fans.

For more information, visit David Bixler on the web at www.davidbixler.com .

Track Listing

1. I'll Get the Bags, 2. Mentiras, 3. How Did It Feel Like? 4. Longing, 5. Tenor Envy, 6. Quack, 8. Show Me The Justice.

Personnel

Album information

Title: Show Me The Justice | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Bixxlixx Music

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.