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Alexander Claffy: Good Spirits

By Jack Bowers
March 27, 2022
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Bassist

Alexander Claffy

bass
b.1992

" data-original-title="" title="">Alexander Claffy's quintet dashes from the starting gate on Good Spirits with a fiery reading of

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner's propulsive "Inner Glimpse," setting the tone for a bright and animated session whose spirit is undeniably good. The album was recorded "live" (no audience) at GB's Juke Joint in New York City "at the height of the [coronavirus] pandemic" in February 2021.

Claffy's front line consists of trumpeter

Benny Benack III

trumpet and vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Benack III and tenor saxophonist

Nicole Glover

saxophone, tenor
b.1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Nicole Glover; his teammates in the rhythm section are pianist

Julius Rodriguez

piano
b.1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Julius Rodriguez and the well-known and highly respected drummer

Joe Farnsworth

drums
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Farnsworth. Claffy wrote two of the album's eight selections, and both are tributes—"To the Great

Gerald Cannon

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerald Cannon" (a bassist, painter and educator whose impressive resume validates the superlative) and "Beeb's Lament," a far-from-mournful salute to Benack's nickname. The remaining numbers were composed by

Michel Legrand

piano
1932 - 2019

" data-original-title="" title="">Michel Legrand,

Harold Mabern

piano
1936 - 2019

" data-original-title="" title="">Harold Mabern,

Joe Henderson

saxophone
1937 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Henderson,

Freddie Hubbard

trumpet
1938 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Freddie Hubbard and

Toninho Horta

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Toninho Horta.

Claffy makes Legrand's ballad "I Will Wait for You" his showcase, firmly plucking the melody and displaying his admirable chops as soloist. He solos again on Henderson's "Isotope" and Hubbard's "Straight Life," but leaves the lion's share of the ad libbing in the hands of Benack, Glover and Rodriguez. And how do they fare? Quite respectably, even though none of the three could be readily singled out in a lineup of their peers. They simply take care of business, and do it well, even though laboring earnestly to keep pace on the frenzied opener, "Inner Glimpse." Things settle down after that, and the ensemble has no problem unsnarling "Gerald Cannon," Mabern's frisky "There But for the Grace Of," or any other number. Rodriguez moves to electric piano on Horta's tender ballad, "Beijo Partido," on which Benack plays muted. The jaunty "Cannon" is a highlight, as are "There But for the Grace Of" and "Beeb's Lament."

If your spirits crave a boost, Good Spirits may be just the tonic you need. And if it isn't, that can't be ascribed to a lack of effort or enthusiasm on the part of Claffy and his colleagues.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Inner Glimpse; For the Great Gerald Cannon; I Will Wait for You; There But for the Grace Of; Isotope; Beeb��s Lament; Beijo Partito; Straight Life.

Personnel

Alexander Claffy

bass

Benny Benack III

trumpet and vocals

Nicole Glover

saxophone, tenor

Julius Rodriguez

piano

Joe Farnsworth

drums

Album information

Title: Good Spirits | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Cellar Music Group

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