Keith Oxman Returns to the Heart of Jazz with “Home”
Acclaimed tenor saxophone player Keith Oxman has released a terrific new CD titled "Home". I was immediately reminded of how much pleasure it is to listen to a master saxophone player like Keith Oxman as soon as I started listening to this recording. Keith’s style of Jazz playing is what many of us grew up with, and thankfully, it never gets old. His tone, phrasing, swing and melodic sense are absolutely dead-on perfect.
Listening to Keith and his supporting players perform on “Home,” it truly does bring the listener back to their own Jazz home, that comfortable musical place that has been providing security, warmth and satisfaction to Jazz fans for a good part of our lives. There is no unnecessary flash here, no chasing trends, just beautifully played straight-ahead Jazz performed by musicians who completely understand the tradition and know how to keep it alive.
Oxman wrote eleven original compositions for this CD and added two well-chosen covers. The music reflects some of the strongest emotional parts of his life, making this one of his most personal recordings to date. The opening track, “True Lou,” was written as a loving tribute to his father, and several of the other originals honor family members, close friends, fellow professors and mentors who helped shape both his life and career. You can hear that emotional connection throughout the entire recording.
One of the things I especially enjoyed about “Home” is how relaxed and natural the playing feels. Keith never overplays. Every note serves the song, and the entire band sounds completely connected from beginning to end. Trumpeter Derek Banach adds a warm and lyrical voice throughout the album, while guitarist Clint Dadian gives the recording a slightly different texture than many traditional hard bop sessions. The rhythm section of Bill McCrossen and Todd Reid keeps everything grounded with tasteful, swinging support. Together they sound like musicians who truly enjoy listening to each other.
Oxman still teaches at Denver’s East High School, which means some very lucky young musicians get the opportunity to learn from a true Jazz master every day. Jazz musicians and composers like Keith Oxman are a big reason why American Jazz is still alive and well today. They continue to respect the roots of the music while still creating fresh and deeply personal performances.
I attached two songs from “Home.” The first is the title tune, “Home (When Shadows Fall),” which immediately gave me the feeling of home the very first time I heard it. I was unfamiliar with the song before hearing this version, but it is a beautiful composition and performed wonderfully by Keith and his band of master-class musicians. The second song, “True Lou,” was written in honor of Keith’s father and perfectly captures the warmth and sincerity that runs throughout this entire recording.
“Home” is the kind of Jazz album that reminds listeners why they fell in love with this music in the first place.
Playlist:
- True Lou
- Hardenesque
- Serenata
- Don’t Throw In The Powell
- Home (When Shadows Fall)
- Pam
- Cousin Steve
- Stray Killer
- The Jazz Brothers Visit Curtis Street
- Detective Acosta and the Case of the Misplaced Square
- Owen’s Defense
- Opus for Wherda
- An Extraordinary Rose
Performers:
- Keith Oxman – Tenor Saxophone
- Derek Banach – Trumpet
- Clint Dadian – Guitar
- Bill McCrossen – Bass
- Todd Reid – Drums
True Love
