Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Benjamin Drazen: Inner Flights

Benjamin Drazen: Inner Flights

By Bruce Lindsay
March 17, 2011
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Benjamin Drazen has been on the New York scene for over 15 years, working with established players including

Lew Soloff

trumpet
1944 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Lew Soloff,

George Garzone

saxophone, tenor
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">George Garzone and

" data-original-title="" title="">Rashied Ali. The saxophonist cannot be accused of being in a hurry to get his name on a CD cover: a 15-year wait to release a debut is a lifetime in today's scene, where graduation can, all-too-often, take place after a young player's CD launch party. Inner Flights has been, however, worth the wait. Drazen and his quartet are tight, stylish, swinging players with real power and drive.

This is an album of hard bop, post bop, cool and more. Drazen's originals are combined with

Ira Gershwin

composer / conductor
1896 - 1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Ira Gershwin's relatively unknown "This Is New," driven by some terrific rhythm playing from drummer

Eric McPherson

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric McPherson and bassist

Carlo De Rosa

bass
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Carlo De Rosa, as is Jimmy Van Heusen's very well-known "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," in a set that has depth as well as immediacy.

Drazen does ballads beautifully, as evidenced by a seductive late-night "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" and the slightly mystical "Prayer for Brothers Gone." But he also excels at the up-tempo, hard-swinging, numbers like opener, "Mr Twilight," or the title track, which starts up with some chunky piano from

Jon Davis

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Davis, before Drazen enters on alto. Fairly cool and measured at first, the tune builds its energy as Drazen switches to soprano and his playing becomes more intense and frenetic.

In between the ballads and the stormers comes "Monkish." The tune begins with Davis' piano which is, as expected,

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk-ish. It's also a little bit

Fats Waller

piano
1904 - 1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Fats Waller-ish, adding a little touch of humor to the piece before the rest of the players enter and the tune shifts into a more straight-ahead mode, centered on Drazen's bop-ish alto.

The versatility that Drazen demonstrates on Inner Flights makes him a hard man to categorize. Best not to try. This is a stylish recording from a fine quartet, and Drazen is a hugely enjoyable player with energy and swing in abundance.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Mr. Twilight; Monkish; Prayer For Brothers Gone; Jazz Heaven; Inner Flights; Neeney's Waltz; This Is New; Kickin' Up Dirt; Polka Dots And Moonbeams.

Personnel

Benjamin Drazen

saxophone

Benjamin Drazen: alto saxophone, soprano saxophone; Jon Davis: piano; Carlo De Rosa: bass; Eric McPherson: drums.

Album information

Title: Inner Flights | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Posi-Tone Records

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