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Patrick Cornelius: Infinite Blue

By Edward Blanco
October 3, 2013
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Veteran New York saxophonist and composer Patrick Cornelius delivers his fourth album as leader with Infinite Blue, a gem of a recording that sparkles with an A-list of players interpreting eight new originals and one cover tune in one audacious session of music. Not really an unusual feat for this three-time winner of the ASCAP Young Composer Award (2005-2007), the music on this album features a variety of hard bop elements as well as intricate tender ballads providing a fair share of moments to experience often.

The saxophonist wastes no time in defining this album as primarily his through measured solo performances beginning on the opening "Regent Street" and guiding the music with the help of

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea/

Brad Mehldau

piano
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Mehldau drummer

Jeff Ballard

drums
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Ballard whose pounding drums and crashing cymbal accents paint the music. Trumpeter

Michael Rodriguez

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Rodriguez and renowned pianist

Frank Kimbrough

piano
1956 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Kimbrough, just two of New York's finest musicians performing in the Cornelius sextet, take pronounced roles on the title track marking this piece infinitely solid.

The reflective balladic "Waiting" is introduced by the only non-New York-based musician of the group, London-based bassist

Michael Janisch

bass
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Janisch who turns it over to pianist Kimbrough whose light chords turns the number into a beautiful haunting piece of music. In stark contrast, "Puzzler" unleashes a hard up beat rhythm that brings an expanded horn section with both the leader and Rodriguez sharing the space with trombonist

Nick Vayenas

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Nick Vayenas for a quick rumble. One of the standout tunes on the recording, "Unfinished Business," has Vayenas playing middle to upper register trombone to Cornelius's crafty alto voice.

The Soft spot of the album goes to the gorgeous slow ballad "In The Quiet Moments," where the saxophonist performs a slow burn to Kimbrough's accompanying light keys and Ballard's warm brush stokes for a highlight of the album. Unlike many recordings, Cornelius caps this fantastic effort with the surging hard bop "My Green Tara" showcasing some of his best chops of the session and closes the recording with pianist

John Chin

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">John Chin's "Projection" featuring Chin in his only appearance on a sweet melody that captures one last dynamic solo from the saxophonist and the very essence of Infinite Blue, an album that has all the elements of great music: elegant compositions, world-class players and a gifted point man leading the way.

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Track Listing

Regent Street; Infinite Blue; Intro to Waiting; Waiting; Puzzler; Unfinished Business; In the Quiet Moments; My Green Tara; Projection.

Personnel

Patrick Cornelius

saxophone, alto

Patrick Cornelius: alto saxophone; Frank Kimbrough: piano; Michael Janisch: bass; Jeff Ballard: drums; Nick Vayenas: trombone (1, 4-6, 9);Michael Rodriguez: trumpet (2, 4, 5); John Chin: piano (9).

Album information

Title: Infinite Blue | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Whirlwind Recordings Ltd

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