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Cory Weeds: Cory Weeds Meets Jerry Weldon

By Jack Bowers
August 14, 2025
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A proper response to the statement

Cory Weeds

saxophone, alto
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Cory Weeds Meets

" data-original-title="" title="">Jerry Weldon could well be "it's about time!" Although widely separated geographically—Weeds is Canadian, Weldon a native New Yorker—these masters of the tenor saxophone have been brightening stages and delighting audiences at venues in the U.S. and around the world for decades. And even though they have 'met' professionally more than once, it is only now—in 2025—that Weeds and Weldon have joined forces and pooled their enormous talents to produce a marvelous recording that brings to mind classic two-tenor duels of yesteryear by such legendary duos as

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis

saxophone, tenor
1922 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and

Johnny Griffin

saxophone, tenor
1928 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Johnny Griffin,

Gene Ammons

saxophone, tenor
1925 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Gene Ammons and

Sonny Stitt

saxophone
1924 - 1982

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

Dexter Gordon

saxophone, tenor
1923 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Dexter Gordon,

Zoot Sims

saxophone, tenor
1925 - 1985

" data-original-title="" title="">Zoot Sims and

Al Cohn

saxophone, tenor
1925 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Al Cohn, among others.

Neither Weeds nor Weldon is a stranger to the two-tenor format, Weeds having locked horns on record with

Nick Hempton

saxophone, alto
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Nick Hempton, Weldon with

Michael Karn

bass
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Karn. While those albums were splendid in their own way, this one seems more like a perfect fit—stylistically, aesthetically and musically. As the jazz world is not really that sizable, it is mildly surprising that no one thought of this pairing before. Going into any contest, it is gratifying to have two of the league's heaviest hitters on your team, especially when they are backed by an all-star rhythm section (pianist

Miles Black

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Black, bassist

John Lee

multi-instrumentalist

" data-original-title="" title="">John Lee, drummer

Jesse Cahill

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jesse Cahill) that never once falters or fumbles the ball.

The spirit of Lockjaw Davis arises immediately as Weeds and Weldon rush merrily through "Hey, Lock!," his perky contrafact of the standard "Body and Soul." A pair of stellar compositions by

Clifford Jordan

saxophone, tenor
1931 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Clifford Jordan ("Toy," "Ole") are up next, followed by the sensuous ballad "Just as Though You Were Here," the Gershwin brothers' "Oh, Lady Be Good" (neatly arranged by

Bill Coon

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Coon) and "I Had the Craziest Dream,"

Cedar Walton

piano
1934 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Cedar Walton's sturdy "One Flight Down" and Weeds' fleet and freewheeling finale, "323 Shuter."

Weeds and Weldon give each one a marvelous ride, in the finest tradition of boss-tenor tussles, while Black, Lee and Cahill provide a soft and spacious landing space and solo eloquently when called upon. It adds up to a dazzling—even though long overdue—session by two maestros of contemporary post-bop tenor saxophone who really should meet like this more often.

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Track Listing

Hey Lock !; Princess; Toyh; Ol��; Just As Though You Were Here; Lady Be Good; I Had The Craziest Dream; One Flight Down; 323 Shuter.

Personnel

Cory Weeds

saxophone, alto

Jerry Weldon

saxophone, tenor

Miles Black

piano

John Lee

multi-instrumentalist

Jesse Cahill

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Cory Weeds: tenor saxophone.

Album information

Title: Cory Weeds Meets Jerry Weldon | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Cellar Music Group

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