Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Gerald Cannon: Live At Dizzy's Club: The Music of Elvin & McCoy

Gerald Cannon: Live At Dizzy's Club: The Music of Elvin & McCoy

By Jack Bowers
February 15, 2024
View read count

In June 2022, bassist

Gerald Cannon

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerald Cannon assembled an all-star septet to perform compositions by his late friends and musical colleagues, drummer

Elvin Jones

drums
1927 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Elvin Jones and pianist

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner, in concert at Dizzy's Club in New York City. It is a respectable blowing session, with capable solos by all hands, albeit a tad less than one might expect from such an esteemed ensemble.

That is not to say anything on the menu is bland or unsavory. Still, expectations are understandably high where an ensemble of this caliber is concerned; this session, even though admirable in many respects, seems more methodical than inspired, in spite of some laudable blowing along the way and a generally solid rhythmic vibe from Cannon and his teammates.

Elvin, one of the Detroit area's talented Jones brothers (Thad, Hank), wrote "EJ's Blues," which opens the session on a buoyant note, and the high-powered "3 Card Molly." Sandwiched between them is Cannon's lone composition, the diaphanous "Three Elders," dedicated to Jones, Tyner and pianist

Larry Willis

piano
1942 - 2019

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Willis, with whom Cannon performed for eleven years in the

Roy Hargrove

trumpet
1969 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Roy Hargrove Big Band. Tyner composed the rest of the session's eight numbers: "Search for Peace," "Blues in the Minor," "Home," "Contemporary Focus" and "Inception."

"EJ's Blues" introduces the ensemble's four-horn front line: tenor saxophonist

Joe Lovano

drums
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Lovano, trumpeter

Eddie Henderson

trumpet
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Eddie Henderson, alto saxophonist

Sherman Irby

saxophone
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Sherman Irby and trombonist

Steve Turre

trombone
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Turre, leading to an engaging solo by pianist Dave Kikoski who is splendid at every turn. Henderson and Turre are smooth and eloquent when called upon, while Lovano relies in part on rapid-fire runs interspersed with high-register screams. Irby never sounds completely comfortable even though he solos capably, especially on "Contemporary Focus." Lovano seems most at home on Tyner's eloquent "Search for Peace," on which he shares blowing space with Henderson.

The septet is present on every number but the last one, Tyner's light-hearted "Inception," performed by Kikoski, Cannon and drummer

Lenny White

drums
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Lenny White who serves as the group's rhythmic core on every number. Cannon solos only twice, on "3 Card Molly" and "Contemporary Focus," White on "Blues in the Minor" and "Inception." After "EJ's Blues," Turre is not out front again until "Home" and "Contemporary Focus."

There can be no doubt that Cannon's heart was in the right place, his choice of sidemen was splendid, and honorees Jones and Tyner were first-class writers as well as performers. The result is a very good concert which never dips below that level but, for reasons uncertain, seldom rises above it either. Even so, well worth hearing and appreciating.

Learn more about our star rating system

PREVIOUS / NEXT

When Is A Jazz Festival Not A Jazz F...
< Previous

Recharge the Blade
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.