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Tim Mayer: Keeper of the Flame

By Jack Bowers
June 12, 2021
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On Keeper of the Flame,

Tim Mayer

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Mayer, a Bostonian who now calls Mexico home, leads a sharp, swinging group of like-minded amigos on a (mostly) octet studio date enriched by

" data-original-title="" title="">Diego Rivera's colorful arrangements. Mayer plays tenor sax on half a dozen tracks, soprano sax on "Bye Bye Blackbird" and "Get Organized," alto flute on "Elusive." Mayer's tenor spans a bridge from early

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane to

George Coleman

saxophone, tenor
b.1935

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

Joe Henderson

saxophone
1937 - 2001

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

Bob Mintzer

saxophone
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Mintzer and other post-bop patriarchs with a dash of

Jerry Bergonzi

saxophone, tenor
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Jerry Bergonzi and

Chris Potter

saxophone, tenor
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Potter thrown in for added flavor.

The ballad "Blame It on My Youth" is a duet (Mayer, bassist

Rodney Whitaker

bass
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Rodney Whitaker), "Blackbird" a trio (with drummer

Ulysses Owens, Jr.

drums
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Ulysses Owens, Jr. added), while the other tunes showcase the octet. Mayer wrote the well-grooved "Blues by Four" and rough-hewn "Get Organized" to complement engaging themes by Coltrane ("Naima"),

Jimmy Heath

saxophone, tenor
1926 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Heath ("Big P"),

Cedar Walton

piano
1934 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Cedar Walton ("Hand in Glove"),

McCoy Tyner

piano
1938 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner ("Passion Dance") and the ensemble's trombonist,

Michael Dease

trombone
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Dease ("Elusive"). "Big P," "Hand in Glove" and "Passion Dance" are old-school burners encompassing fiery solos by Mayer, Whitaker, Dease, Owens, pianist Miki Hayama and alto saxophonist

Adam Rongo

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam Rongo. Whitaker is a tower of strength in the rhythm section, while Owens and Hayama (replaced on "Elusive" by

Emmet Cohen

piano
b.1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Emmet Cohen) easily toe the mark.

"Big P" leads things off in free-flowing style, followed by "Blackbird," "Hand in Glove," "Blame It on My Youth," "Blues by Four" and "Naima," the last taken at a brisk pace that suits it well. Although the diaphanous "Elusive" is entered next on the album's playlist, it actually follows "Get Organized" and precedes the ardent finale, "Passion Dance," wherein Mayer fashions the last of his valorous tenor solos, and Rongo follows suit with his lone sortie on alto sax to embroider the last of Rivera's impressive charts. In sum, Keeper of the Flame is a well-shaped album whose less-than-seductive moments are brief and unimportant.

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Track Listing

Big P; Bye Bye Blackbird; Hand in Glove; Blame It on My Youth; Blues by Four; Naima; Elusive; Get Organized; Passion Dance.

Personnel

Tim Mayer

saxophone

Anthony Stanco

trumpet

Adam Rongo

saxophone, alto

Tony Lustig

saxophone, baritone

Michael Dease

trombone

Miki Hayama

piano

Emmet Cohen

piano

Rodney Whitaker

bass

Ulysses Owens, Jr.

drums

Album information

Title: Keeper of the Flame | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: D Clef Records

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