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Ralph Bowen: Standard Deviation

By Glenn Astarita
May 20, 2014
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Track review of "Yesterdays"

Tenor saxophonist Ralph Bowen (Out Of The Blue, Horace Silver, Michel Camillo) is a highly regarded New York-based artiste and an idea man who can stand with the best of them. With his fifth solo venture for Posi- Tone Records Bowen tackles standards, and as the title intimates, he often deviates from the norm.

Jerome Kern's "Yesterdays" receives a Latin uplift, sparked by venerable pianist

Bill O'Connell

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill O'Connell's topsy-turvy opening statements and bristling unison choruses with the rhythm section. From this point onward, they spring into a buoyant romp as Bowen stokes the coals via a ferocious series of choruses. He adds enough bite to impart a distinct edge, yet interweaves his melodic flair into ultra-fluid lines and improvises within the lower to medium registers. But he doesn't waste any notes and injects a few emphatic honks and squeaks into the upper-registers to raise the pitch with a stirring climatic assault while also infusing brevity into O' Connell's flavorful arrangement. Ultimately, Bowen and his first-class ensemble ruffle a few feathers and take matters into their own hands by not tendering literal readings of these rather shopworn works. (Zealously recommended...)

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Track Listing

Isn't It Romantic; No Moon At All, Yesterdays; You Don't Know What Love Is; You Stepped Out Of A Dream; Spring Is Here; Dream Dancing; By Myself

Personnel

Ralph Bowen

saxophone

Ralph Bowen: tenor saxophone; Bill O��Connell: piano; Kenny Davis: bass; Donald Edwards: drums.

Album information

Title: Standard Deviation | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Posi-Tone Records

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