Dexter Gordon, one of the giants of the tenor saxophone, had a habit of reciting lyrics before he’d play a standard. It was his way of telling the audience that the words mattered, and that the story he was about to tell you with his horn was more than just a reaction to the melody and chord changes. Love Stone, the delicious new CD from tenorman JD Allen, operates on the same principle. As Allen informs us in a revealing liner note, he “was kind of mad at [himself] for wanting to do an all-ballad album, “but soon realized that a ballad represents in every human story.” With seriously subdued accompaniment from bassist Gregg August and drummer Rudy Royston, plus the crisply understated harmonic support of guitarist Liberty Ellman, this is pretty much Allen’s show all the way. The song selection is carefully considered and sequenced, with such classics as Until the Real Thing Comes Along and Put on a Happy Face. Allen has thoughtfully included selected lyrics in the printed booklet, and he implores us to “[t]hink of it as a dog star to what I was trying to hold on to in each song.” From the sumptuous opening exploration of Stranger in Paradise right through to the smooth swing of Gone With the Wind, Allen’s warmth and compassion are evident in every note. An absolute winner, highly recommended.
Savant SCD 2169; JD Allen (ts) Liberty Ellman (g) Gregg August (b) Rudy Royston (d); Brooklyn, NY, January 9, 2018; Stranger in Paradise/ Until the Real Thing Comes Along/ Why Was I Born/ You’re My Thrill/ Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies/ Put on a Happy Face/ Prisoner of Love/ Someday (You’ll Want Me to Want You/ Gone With the Wind; 44:51. www.jazzdepot.com
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