Put It There
BARI-ed Alive
Cornerstone Records CRST CD 171 (cornerstonerecordsinc.com/pages/cat171.html)
Most jazz fans will remember Gerry Mulligan and Pepper Adams as two famous baritone sax players but otherwise this large full-throated instrument is usually consigned to the end of the saxophone line in a big band. But we now have BARI-ed Alive, a Toronto jazz sextet featuring Alex Dean, Shirantha Beddage and Chris Gale all playing the baritone saxophone, with Jeff McLeod on Hammond B3 organ, Andrew Scott on guitar and Morgan Childs on drums.
Put it There is the new release from this group and contains nine original tunes all written by members of the band. The album begins with the high energy and quick tempos of Abraca-Pocus and Baritone Boogaloo which provide great grooves and some high-voltage solos. Blues for Owl is slower and bluesier with lots of feeling and a few growls in the solos. Turrentrane is (I assume) a play on the two tenor sax players Stanley Turrentine and John Coltrane and its beginning seems inspired by Smoke On the Water.
The tunes are all fairly standard, and offer not surprises but many swinging delights. The “bari” sax is a remarkably expressive instrument and the team of Dean, Beddage and Gale swing hard and blow the heck out of all the tunes. Their rhythm section is also rock solid; McLeod gives us many tasty organ solos and Scott’s guitar intro to Don’t Call Me Victor is simply gorgeous. May I suggest their next album be titled: Three Baris, No Waiting?
Listen to 'Put It There' Now in the Listening Room
