A fiery alto saxophonist who can inspire crowds to whoop and holler, Donald Harrison is a brilliant musician who also can pour out a ballad as sweetly as hot honey. An Art Blakey alumnus, Harrison has carved a singular course through the increasingly shrinking jazz market as an exciting soloist whoΓÇÖs equally capable of penning a memorable melody. Both talents are in ample supply on this, his second Impulse! recording.
Like Blakey, Harrison has a gift for creating clever arrangements and finding just the perfect musicians to play them. From track one, Free To Be lifts off like a rocket, propelled by diverse, riveting rhythms and surprising cover treatments. His precise and inspired cast, including drummers Carl Allen and John Lamkin, trumpeter Brian Lynch, pianists Mulgrew Miller and Andrew Adair, and special guest Eddie Palmeri, rise to each challenge Harrison extends, like athletes in competition.
"Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise" will forever bear the stamp of Coltrane, but Trane never did it as a one-drop reggae groovefest. Likewise for the Meters' classic "Cissy Strut," here driven at warp-hard-bop speed with more twists and turns than the Grand Prix. Ellington's little-known "Blue Rose" is a breeze, and Bill Lee's mournful "Again, Never" is exquisite, Harrison recalling the sweet sound of Johnny Hodges. From here out it's all Harrison originals: the Messengers-ish "Indian Blues," the meaty (!) smooth jazz of "Mr. Cool Breeze," and the gospel-tinged "Feelin' Jazzy, Baby." And by now you should be.
