Jazz musicians are always seeking relatively unexplored territory, as many standards and established jazz compositions have been recorded far too often. Saxophonist
Pietro Tonolo is not the first jazz musician to release a CD of rocker
Elton John's compositions, whose music initially seems rather unpromising for improvising. But
Tonolo recruited pianist
Gil Goldstein, bassist
Steve Swallow and
Paul Motian for this session and together they have some success.
Tonolo sticks to tenor sax for most of the session, with
Goldstein doubling on accordion to add some spice to "Tiny Dancer."
Swallow's intricate solo sets up a surprising take of "Your Song" (one of
John's earliest hits), with
Tonolo making a delayed entrance on soprano sax following
Goldstein's piano solo. The band is at their most adventurous with a rollicking take of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" leaves
John's famous recording behind in the dust. At least one song, the bland "Rocket Man," simply doesn't work, as it comes off a bit lounge-like in spite of the quartet's best efforts.
Tonolo closes the disc with two originals, including one "White Street" that he credits
Elton John as his source of inspiration. ~ Ken Dryden