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The Heavy Hitters: Heavy Hitters

By Troy Dostert
February 6, 2023
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The self-titled debut from the Heavy Hitters, pianist Mike LeDonne's latest sextet, has the feel of a tribute album. However, unlike most recordings of that nature, there is no classic repertoire present, as all nine tracks are penned either by LeDonne or his colleague, tenor saxophonist

Eric Alexander

saxophone, tenor
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Alexander. Instead, it is a tribute to a sound that LeDonne and partners are aiming for: in this case, that of the iconic Blue Note label's 1950s-60s period, when artists such as

Freddie Hubbard

trumpet
1938 - 2008

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

Joe Henderson

saxophone
1937 - 2001

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

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter,

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock and many others effectively placed their stamp on midcentury jazz. From the bold yet straightforward design of the album's cover, to the choice of recording venue in fabled Blue Note producer Rudy Van Gelder's former studio, Heavy Hitters evokes that golden era of jazz with panache and top-quality musicianship.

The musicians do not disguise their musical debts. The crackling opener, "Hub," will have Hubbard fans going back to revisit classic gems such as Hub-Tones (Blue Note, 1963) or Breaking Point (Blue Note, 1964), and the

Horace Silver

piano
1928 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Horace Silver vibes run deep on "Silverdust," with a hard-bop head that sails along effortlessly and with an undeniable groove. Elsewhere other jazz legends are acknowledged, as "Cedar Land" is built over a chord progression from pianist

Cedar Walton

piano
1934 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Cedar Walton's "Holy Land," while "This is Something New" is adapted from an unfinished tune by saxophonist

George Coleman

saxophone, tenor
b.1935

" data-original-title="" title="">George Coleman.

Projects of this sort invariably take the risk of becoming mere exercises in nostalgia, reminding us of the unsurpassed greatness of the titans of old. While there are moments here in which that can happen, as a listener temporarily forgets that they are hearing something recorded not in 1965 but in 2022, the abundance of strong playing throughout the disc is more than enough to maintain interest. LeDonne's solos are terrific, but perhaps even more impressive is his comping, which is consistently inventive and rhythmically tenacious: check out his work underneath the soloists on the Latin-hued "Un Dia es un Dia" as evidence, where he digs in with zest to keep the music moving. The horns, which include not only Alexander but also alto saxophonist

Vincent Herring

saxophone, alto
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Vincent Herring and trumpeter

Jeremy Pelt

trumpet
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeremy Pelt, bring plenty of fireworks to the proceedings; but they are also able to carve out more pensive ruminations as well. Alexander's heartfelt statement on the lovely ballad "Big Richard" is a case in point. And the bass-drums tandem of

Peter Washington

bass
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Washington and Kenny Washington is tough to beat, with impeccable instincts for swing and groove.

All in all, this is a satisfying release that extracts a lot of fine contributions from musicians who are indeed among the "heavy hitters" of their generation. Fans of classic jazz will very much appreciate the spirit and dedication on display here.

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Track Listing

Hub; New Day; Silverdust; Un Dia es un Dia; Big Richard; Chainsaw; This is Something New; Cedar Land; Bluesit.

Personnel

Mike LeDonne

organ, Hammond B3

Eric Alexander

saxophone, tenor

Jeremy Pelt

trumpet

Vincent Herring

saxophone, alto

Peter Washington

bass

Kenny Washington

drums

Rale Micic

guitar

Album information

Title: Heavy Hitters | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Cellar Music Group

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