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Kris Allen: Beloved

By Mark Corroto
June 14, 2016
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You have to love how a sommelier might describe a certain wine. It has "a jammy taste with a sweet attack, leather, tobacco, and very muscular with integrated wood." Listening to saxophonist Kris Allen's Beloved reminds us that jazz listeners use similar terms to describe the music they're hearing. Allen's alto saxophone is flavored with hints of

Bobby Watson

saxophone, alto
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Watson, the body feel of

Paul Desmond

saxophone, alto
1924 - 1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Desmond, and the terrior of Hartford. In other words, it tastes great.

The Hartford reference is to that of Allen's mentor, the late

Jackie McLean

saxophone, alto
1932 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Jackie McLean, who taught the saxophonist and eventually had Allen take over some of his teaching responsibilities at the Hartt School of Music. In Allen's playing you hear the early McLean, his 1950's music, that which was under the sway of

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker. But this is no retro sound-alike recording. His mash-up of the song "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey" with seventeen Parker signature riffs on "Bird Bailey" evidences how, just like wine, a crafted blend can refresh an old favorite grape varietal. This particular piece is also the only one in which he swaps his alto for a soprano saxophone, and the tannins of, let's say,

Branford Marsalis

saxophone
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Branford Marsalis.

The blend is not just the music he has written, all original. Allen's piano-less quartet finds him with tenor saxophonist Frank Kozyra, bassist

Luques Curtis

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Luques Curtis (

Orrin Evans

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Orrin Evans,

Sean Jones

trumpet
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Sean Jones,

Eddie Palmieri

piano
1936 - 2025

" data-original-title="" title="">Eddie Palmieri) and drummer

Jonathan Barber

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jonathan Barber (

JD Allen

saxophone, tenor
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">JD Allen). The paring of Allen and Kozyra, like McLean and

Hank Mobley

saxophone, tenor
1930 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Hank Mobley, or

Sonny Stitt

saxophone
1924 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Stitt and

Gene Ammons

saxophone, tenor
1925 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Gene Ammons complements, not like wine and cheese, but cabernet and, well, more cabernet. They weave a sound on the Latin-spiced "Flores" that exhibits their simpatico nature. One solos, the other supports, capturing magic in a bottle. Allen's music is written to be competitive without being combative, "Hate The Game," and wistful without sentimentality, "More Yeah." The latter piece a demonstration how a simple melody can blossom into a piece of beautiful music. Each tune is quite delicious.

Besides, after a few glasses of wine and a spin through Beloved you may actually be able cavort to the infamous quote, "talking about music is like dancing about architecture."

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Track Listing

Lowborn (Proverbs 62:9); Mandy Have Mercy; Lord Help My Unbelief; Flores; One For Rory; Bird Bailey; Beloved; Hate The Game; More Yeah; Threequel.

Personnel

Kris Allen

saxophone, alto

Kris Allen: alto saxophone, soprano saxophones; Frank Kozyra: tenor saxophone; Luques Curtis: bass; Jonathan Barber: drums.

Album information

Title: Beloved | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Truth Revolution Records

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