Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Hadley Caliman: Straight Ahead

Hadley Caliman: Straight Ahead

By C. Michael Bailey
February 21, 2010
View read count

The most appealing thing about Hadley Caliman, save for his very eloquent name, is his equally eloquent and understated tenor saxophone playing. Firmly in a post-

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane context, Caliman plays a virile and muscular tenor saxophone whose tone compels because of its carefully crafted rough edges. Straight Ahead follows up his 2008 Origin release Gratitude.

Caliman joins a ratified group of Left Coast jazz musicians who interrupted their careers, including

Art Pepper

saxophone, alto
1925 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Pepper,

Frank Morgan

saxophone, alto
1933 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Morgan,

Ed Reed

vocals
1929 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Ed Reed, and

Dexter Gordon

saxophone, tenor
1923 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Dexter Gordon (if you count his expatriation), among others. Caliman was active from the late 1960s through 1980, recording with

Carlos Santana

guitar
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Carlos Santana and

Buddy Miles

drums
1947 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Buddy Miles as well as

Bobby Hutcherson

vibraphone
1941 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Hutcherson and

Freddie Hubbard

trumpet
1938 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Freddie Hubbard. Then, he dropped out of sight, resurfacing with Gratitude.

Caliman's song selection begins with his '60s original "Cigar Eddie," a hard bop scone smelling of scotch and cigarette smoke. Caliman and trumpeter

Thomas Marriott

trumpet
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Thomas Marriott summon a

Lee Morgan

trumpet
1938 - 1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Morgan—

Benny Golson

saxophone, tenor
1929 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Golson vibe as deep as the Grand Canyon and wide as Caliman's broad, raspy tone. He spins a Latin vibe through the majority of Straight Ahead, most clearly manifested on the Thomas Marriott original "Cathlamet" and Lee Morgan's "Totem Pole."

Caliman achieves a grand after-hours milieu on the ballads "You Leave Me Breathless" and "Lush Life." Caliman's quintet is responsive to his needs and he returns the favor by sharing his solo space with Marriott and pianist Eric Verlinde. Caliman is one of those rare gems put in a safe place and forgotten about until rediscovery, leading to the hope of hearing more from this fine saxophonist.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Cigar Eddie; Rapture; You Leave Me Breathless; Cathlamet; Blues for PT; Lush Life; Totem Pole; The Night Has a Thousand Eyes.

Personnel

Hadley Caliman

saxophone

Hadley Caliman: tenor saxophone; Thomas Marriott: trumpet; Eric Verlinde: piano; Phil Sparks: bass; Matt Jorgensen: drums.

Album information

Title: Straight Ahead | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Origin Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Youth Orchestra of The Americas at A...
< Previous

Elevating Device
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.