Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Eric Alexander & Mike LeDonne: Together

Eric Alexander & Mike LeDonne: Together

By Jack Bowers
September 2, 2024
View read count

Eric Alexander

saxophone, tenor
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Alexander and

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike LeDonne have been together many times—on recordings, in clubs, at concerts and elsewhere— but never quite as intimately so as on this splendid album, even though they are heard Together on only four of the album's nine tracks- -LeDonne maps a solo course on three others, Alexander on two (moving to soprano sax on "Autumn in New York").

Either way, they are delightful to hear and appreciate, and the need for a full rhythm section is never an issue. If there is a downside, it is that the session leans heavily toward lovely yet gossamer ballads, with only the sunny opener, "For Mabes" (a nod to the late pianist, colleague and friend

Harold Mabern

piano
1936 - 2019

" data-original-title="" title="">Harold Mabern) flowing at more than a temperate pace. Besides "Autumn in New York," Alexander flies solo on his melodious finale, "Two in One," while LeDonne goes it alone on

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight" and his own compositions, "Lost But Not Forgotten" and "Mary."

After "Mabes," the duo is together on the standards "I'm in the Mood for Love," "The Nearness of You" and a second Alexander theme, "Mutation." While Alexander is perhaps best known as an old-school swinger whose lineage can be traced to the early bop era, his mastery of the ballad idiom is no less impressive, and he makes every number on which he appears sparkle and shine. As for LeDonne, he is at home in any mood and tempo, brightening every theme with his special warmth and perception. Together, Alexander and LeDonne comprise an almost unbeatable team; and even when apart, their perception and eloquence are such that the listener is never displeased or left to assume that more could have been said or done. Even with the heat on low, an impressive session from start to finish.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

For Mabes; Autumn In New York; Round Midnight; I'm In The Mood For Love; Lost But Not Forgotten; Mutation; Mary; The Nearness Of You; Two In One.

Personnel

Eric Alexander

saxophone, tenor

Mike LeDonne

organ, Hammond B3

Album information

Title: Together | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Cellar Music Group

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Ingrid Jensen Quintet At The Jazz Fo...
< Previous

Elling, McLorin Salvant and Fortner:...
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.