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Jon Gordon: 7th Ave South

By Jack Bowers
November 29, 2024
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Some of life's moments, even when buried in the past, remain almost as fresh and memorable as today's. Such is alto saxophonist

Jon Gordon

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Gordon's memory of his first visit to New York City's then-jazz center, Greenwich Village's 7th Avenue South, which was "the first place [he] ever heard live jazz in New York." That was in 1983—nearly four decades ago—but that memory and those that followed were enough to inspire Gordon's latest album, appropriately titled 7th Ave South.

Gordon, a native New Yorker, was a young lion then, an esteemed veteran now, but still as limber and inventive as when he first visited that jazz mecca as an eager and inquisitive teenager. In the spirit of reverence that suffuses his nonet's warm salute to 7th Avenue, Gordon enlists a chorus to open and close the largely pleasing studio date. Besides playing alto, Gordon arranged all but one of the album's ten numbers (trombonist

Alan Ferber

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Alan Ferber arranged the glossy and prismatic "Paradox") and wrote all save

Quincy Davis

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Quincy Davis' pensive "Ponder This" and

John Lennon

guitar and vocals
1940 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">John Lennon-

Paul McCartney

bass, electric
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul McCartney's charming "Here, There and Everywhere."

Erin Propp

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Erin Propp sings respectably on "Here, There and Everywhere" and "Ed's Groove,"

Joanna Majoko

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Joanna Majoko (wordless) on "Ponder This." Propp offers a second wordless vocal on "Visit." Tracks 7-9 ("Visit," "Intro," "Spark") presumably refer to Gordon's recap of his long-ago journeys to 7th Avenue South, a venue wherein his jazz voice began to take shape. It is a voice that has grown stronger and more eloquent with the passage of time, and is impeccably displayed here on every number. While Gordon's voice is most prominent, there are admirable solos along the way by Ferber, trumpeter

Jonathan Challoner

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Jonathan Challoner, tenor

Walter Smith III

saxophone, tenor
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Walter Smith III, pianist

Will Bonness

piano
b.1985

" data-original-title="" title="">Will Bonness and drummer

Fabio Ragnelli

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Fabio Ragnelli. Bass clarinetist

John Ellis

saxophone, tenor
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">John Ellis, guitarist

Jocelyn Gould

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Jocelyn Gould and bassist

Julian Bradford

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Julian Bradford round out the ensemble.

Although the session is well written and ably performed, one evident weakness is that, aside from "Spark," there is slight heat to be found on 7th Ave South, which, by and large, saunters coolly and casually from start to finish. If that does not bother you, there is much to savor and appreciate in Gordon's long-awaited return to Greenwich Village.

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Track Listing

Witness; 7th Ave South; Ponder This; Paradox; Here, There and Everywhere; Ed's Groove; Visit; Intro; Spark; 7th Ave South (reprise).

Personnel

Jon Gordon

saxophone, alto

Jonathan Challoner

trumpet

Walter Smith III

saxophone, tenor

Alan Ferber

trombone

John Ellis

saxophone, tenor

Jocelyn Gould

guitar

Will Bonness

piano

Julian Bradford

bass, acoustic

Fabio Ragnelli

drums

Joanna Majoko

vocals

Erin Propp

vocals

Joyce German

vocals

Kelsey Rosentreter

vocals

Dan Keding

vocals

Mariana Padeaunu

vocals

Ashleigh Sadler

vocals

Elizabeth Sadler

vocals

Zachary Rushing

vocals

Additional Instrumentation

Jocelyn Gould: voice; Joey Landreth: voice.

Album information

Title: 7th Ave South | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: ArtistShare

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