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Alexander McCabe: The Round
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The Round comes to life on a swaying melody, with the leader's engaging composition "Floating." Alto saxophonist Alexander McCabe's blows in with an Art Pepper-like intensity inside the tune's drifitng ambiance, an atmosphere that he and the band achieve with a seeming ease.
McCabe studied with George Coleman, an undersung Miles Davis sideman during the very early sixtiesan undersung period in Davis's ever-evolving sound. Altoist McCabe seems to have absorbed some of Coleman's subtle, sneak-up-on-you eloquence, and the master's storytelling gift that keeps you riveted and coming back for multiple listens.
McCabe penned five of the eight tunes on this strong straight-ahead set; pianist/accordionist Joe Barbato wrote two more, and drummer Steve Johns composed another. Of special note is Joe Barbato's accordion work. Sax and accordion are tangy and sweet, two instruments that seem to be made to acccompany each other. The title tune brings a traditional Irish feeling to the set, a high-energy, propulsive pub crawler, evoking images of low ceilings and gleaming taps, froth-topped pints of Guinness on the bar, and musicians huddled in a corner, wailing. Also, Barbato adds some squeezebox ambiance to Steve Johns' "A Cry From a Rain Forest" and the closing "Salvo."
The Round announces a first-rate jazz talent in alto saxophonist/composer Alexander McCabe.
McCabe studied with George Coleman, an undersung Miles Davis sideman during the very early sixtiesan undersung period in Davis's ever-evolving sound. Altoist McCabe seems to have absorbed some of Coleman's subtle, sneak-up-on-you eloquence, and the master's storytelling gift that keeps you riveted and coming back for multiple listens.
McCabe penned five of the eight tunes on this strong straight-ahead set; pianist/accordionist Joe Barbato wrote two more, and drummer Steve Johns composed another. Of special note is Joe Barbato's accordion work. Sax and accordion are tangy and sweet, two instruments that seem to be made to acccompany each other. The title tune brings a traditional Irish feeling to the set, a high-energy, propulsive pub crawler, evoking images of low ceilings and gleaming taps, froth-topped pints of Guinness on the bar, and musicians huddled in a corner, wailing. Also, Barbato adds some squeezebox ambiance to Steve Johns' "A Cry From a Rain Forest" and the closing "Salvo."
The Round announces a first-rate jazz talent in alto saxophonist/composer Alexander McCabe.
Track Listing
Floating; Taylor Made; The Round; Vilage Walk; Jugo; Yours; A Cry From the Rain Forest; Salvo.
Personnel
Alexander McCabe
saxophone, altoAlexander McCabe: alto saxophone; Joe Barbato: piano and accordion; Ugonna Okegwo: bass; Steve Johns: drums.
Album information
Title: The Round | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Wamco Music
Comments
About Alexander McCabe
Instrument: Saxophone, alto
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The Round