Eddie Johnson: Love You Madly

Johnson’s tone is smooth and rounded and might be considered a derivative of the Turrentine Texas sound if his development on his horn hadn’t predated Stanley’s by over a decade. The sometimes surly bite of Turrentine’s sound is absent from Johnson gilded style but his melodic lines are no less meaty in their conception. For his propitious return to the studio the graying saxophonist has convened a highly sympathetic rhythm section. The four strike a pleasing balance when it comes to an engaging ensemble sound and show off heartily what their six-year tenure together has produced. “I Love You Madly” serves as a vehicle to get the group’s juices flowing and finds both Johnson and Young feeling out the tune’s mellifluous recesses through strong solos. “Gravy Waltz” has the simple loping groove of a Bacharach tune and it’s here where Johnson’s similarities to Turrentine first come to the fore with a deep throaty assurance. “Easy to Love,” another elegant ballad, is an archetype of convivial swing. Johnson’s arrangements on all of the tunes emphasize the importance of a relaxed approach to improvisation when it comes to playing standards. His charts generate plenty of room for thoughtful solos and encourage each of the players to stretch out and luxuriate in the simple beauty of the songs. Listeners looking for a solidly conceived and implemented session of small ensemble jazz should seek out this fine offering by Johnson, a seasoned veteran who is only now getting his just due in the recording studio. Thanks are due to Delmark for rescuing an otherwise forgotten player from the obscurity that can accompany the absence of discography.

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