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Hadley Caliman and Pete Christlieb: Reunion

By C. Michael Bailey
September 30, 2010
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Track review of "Little Dex"

Hadley Caliman and Pete Christlieb: Reunion

Both

Hadley Caliman

saxophone
1932 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Hadley Caliman and

" data-original-title="" title="">Pete Christlieb were active on Los Angeles jazz scene going on 50 years ago, and the two tenor saxophonists actually performed together at the time. Real life got in the way, guiding each man in his allotted direction. Origin Records' house pianist (and All About Jazz Contributor)

Bill Anschell

piano
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Anschell brought the two together for Reunion, composing a good old fashioned cooker to open the disc.

"Little Dex" (after

Dexter Gordon

saxophone, tenor
1923 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Dexter Gordon) is thus titled after the nickname given to Caliman on Central Avenue in LA. Anschell fashioned the piece on the Gershwin Brothers' "I Got Rhythm" changes, as was common back in the day. Never open with a ballad, and this is no ballad.

The beauty of this tenor madness is two vastly different approaches to the same instrument can be heard; Caliman and Christlieb's styles could not be more different. Christlieb plays the A sections in a tight, fast tone, approaching it like an alto horn. His solos are tart and thoughtfully constructed. Caliman, on the other hand, has a diffuse tone with potent momentum. His solos, played over the bridge B section, are full of age and pathos, vaguely recalling Dexter Gordon, without kneeling to mere imitation.

Discs like this are welcome additions to the mainstream-traditional bop repertoire.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Little Dex; Up Jumped Spring; Comencio; Gala; I Thought About You; Nasty Green; Wide Stance; Dream On; Love For Sale.

Personnel

Hadley Caliman

saxophone

Pete Christlieb

saxophone

Bill Anschell

piano

Chuck Deardorf

bass

John Bishop

drums

Album information

Title: Reunion | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Origin Records

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