CD Review: Keith Oxman Returns to the Heart of Jazz with “Home”

 

                            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: 

1. True Lou
2. Hardenesque
3. Serenata
4. Don’t Throw In The Powell
5. Home (When Shadows Fall)
6. Pam
7. Cousin Steve
8. Stray Killer
9. The Jazz Brothers Visit Curtis Street
10. Detective Acosta and the Case of the Misplaced Square
11. Owen’s Defense
12. Opus for Wherda
13. An Extraordinary Rose

Performers:

• Keith Oxman – Tenor Saxophone
• Derek Banach – Trumpet
• Clint Dadian – Guitar
• Bill McCrossen – Bass
• Todd Reid – Drums

                                                              Home (When Shadows Fall)

                                                                True Love 

                           

CD Review: Keith Oxman and Frank Morelli, "The Ox-Mo Incident"

This review covers a new CD from Tenor Saxophonist Keith Oxman and Bassoon virtuoso Frank Morelli and their delightful quartet.  Ok, when was the last time you heard a Bassoon playing Jazz?  My guess is never or quite a while ago.  Bassoon players are usually found in Classical music environments,  but no longer.  Keith Oxman and Frank Morelli have joined forces to bring us "The Ox-Mo Incident".  

Oxman and Morelli give the listener the feeling that these two gifted musicians have known and worked with each other for years but the fact is they barely knew each other prior to this recording session. But what they did know was that each of them was a highly skilled and experienced musician.  Oxman offers, "Frank is just an unbelievable musician.  So I was really excited when he suggested this.  Even though Jazz might not be his musical field, good musicians are good musicians.  And when somebody's as good as Frank, there's got to be something there."

Frank Morelli Studied at the Manhattan and Juilliard Schools of Music and was the first Bassoonist awarded a doctorate by the Juilliard School. He is a member of the Orpheus Camber Orchestra and the woodwind quintet Windscape.  He serves on the faculties of  The Juilliard School, Yale School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, SUNY Stony Brook and was recently named Distinguished Lecturer in Woodwinds at the Aaron Copland School of Music.

Keith Oxman burnished Tenor sound is born of a love of classic players like Sonny Stitt, and Charles McPherson who he has played with.  He has also played with Jazz giants Art Blakey, Buddy Rich, Jack McDuff, Phil Woods and Dave Brubeck,  He recently reunited with his iconic Denver brand the Jazz Worms to release the quintet's first new album in nearly three decades.

"The Ox-Mo Incident" is a totally relaxing and enjoyable CD experience and I highly recommend it.  The successful combining of Jazz with Classical again proves that good music has no boundaries.       

I have attached two "YouTube" cuts from "The Ox-Mo Incident" CD that are well- known standards we all know and love.  The first is from the brilliant composing team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top".  The second is from the equally brilliant composing team of Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner, " I Could Have Danced All Night".

                                                     "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top"

                                                          "I Could Have Danced All Night"

Playlist:

1.  Happy Talk

2. Full Moon and Empty Arms

3. The Surrey With the Fringe on Top

4. Baubles, Bangles and Beads

5. The Ox-Mo Incident

6. Three for Five

7. Stranger in Paradise

8. Poor Butterfly

9. A Wasp in Search of a Hart and Lung

10. Pavane

11 I Could Have Danced All Night

Players:

Keith Oxman-Tenor Saxophone

Frank Morelli-Bassoon

Jeff Jenkins-Piano

Ken Walker-Bass

Todd Reid-Drums 

                

    

CD Review: Keith Oxman and Houston Person Release "Two Cigarettes in the Dark"

Saxophonist, Composer and Educator Keith Oxman has produced some great Jazz CDs over the years by collaborating with some of the greatest Jazz players including Tenor Saxophonist Dave Liebman, Trombonist Curtis Fuller and Alto Saxophonist Charles McPherson.  On his newest CD release, "Two Cigarettes in the Dark", Oxman has brought in the esteemed Tenor Sax player, Houston Person to join him.  Jazz giant Charles McPherson wrote the liner notes for "Two Cigarettes in the Dark" pointing out the stylistic contrast between the sounds of the two Tenors, comparing "Keith's long, flowing lines" to "Houton's warm, rich tone".   This CD has a warm and relaxed vibe and these two superb Tenor players melded perfectly together in every cut on the album.  No competition here, just mutual respect for each other's musical skills.

The playlist is interesting in that it featuring Originals, Standards and Vintage Tunes.  Keith brought along veteran Vocalist Annette Murrell to sing two of the Standards, "Everything Happens to Me" and "Crazy He Calls Me".   She sings these ballads like she has lived them.  Her rich, deep voice is filled with life experience and, she fits perfectly between these two Tenor greats! 

Players:

Keith Oxman- Tenor Sax

Houston Person- Tenor Sax

Annette Murrell- Vocals

Jeff Jenkins- Piano

Ken Walker- Bass

Paul Romaine- Drums

Playlist:

 1. "I've Never Been In Love Before"

2.  "Voss Is Bass"

3. "Everything Happens To Me"

4. "Two Cigarettes In The Dark"

5. "Bossa For Baby"

6. "Murphy's Law Impacts L.E.A.P."

7. "Crazy He Calls Me"

8. "Wind Chill"

9.  "Sweet Sucker"

10. "Murrellancholy" 

  "I've Never Been In Love Before"

                                                       "Everything Happens to Me"