Strike Up the Band is Paul Broadnax's third album as a leader, and on each recording he has asked tenor sax player and Dartmouth College educator Fred Haas to join him. On this album, Haas shares top billing with Broadnax, and well he should. His tenor styling is as critical to the success of the... [+] Expand

Strike Up the Band is Paul Broadnax's third album as a leader, and on each recording he has asked tenor sax player and Dartmouth College educator Fred Haas to join him. On this album, Haas shares top billing with Broadnax, and well he should. His tenor styling is as critical to the success of the session as Broadnax's deep, rich baritone. In addition to his contributions on the saxophone, Haas puts on his educator's hat to write informative liner notes on the power of jazz. The other participants -- Dave Trefethen on guitar and Peter Kontrimas -- have also been present with Broadnax on his earlier albums, which adds to the cohesiveness of this session.

Broadnax and Haas work their inventive will on a play list of 12 tunes -- mostly standards with a couple of originals from Broadnax, one with Haas as a collaborator. Haas also has the opportunity to show his wares, apart from Broadnax's vocalizing, on a swinging instrumental arrangement of "Moten Swing." Another instrumental, "In a Sentimental Mood," becomes a prelude for Haas' unaccompanied tenor, during which he shows his admiration for the great altoist Johnny Hodges. "Falling in Love Is Wonderful" opens with a couple of choruses of soulful sax before Broadnax picks up with the vocal. As on all the cuts, Trefethen's guitar is prominent on both these offerings. Since this is a drummerless quartet, Trefethen not only provides the elegiac backdrop for ballads, but he also drives the upbeat tunes as seen on "Dwike and Willie" (a tribute to Dwike Mitchell and Willie Ruff). On Charlie Shavers' warhorse "Undecided," Broadnax focuses on his role as the piano playing member of the quartet. His Count Basie-influenced piano opens with a long solo before passing the musical baton to the other members of the rhythm section who are given a chance to stretch out. The album's coda, Broadnax's "Hawthorn Street Blues," is a seven-minute homage to that genre.

This album is much like going to a New York lounge to hear a trio or quartet and a good singer. Like the format for this album, the singer is given a chance to rest the chops by sprinkling some instrumentals throughout the show. A nice touch that adds to the appeal of this album. ~ Dave Nathan, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

• songs
• similar
• videos
• eyeviews
• reviews
• download directory