Texas isn't the only place that's known for big-toned, hard-blowing tenor saxophonists--Chicago is equally famous in that area -- but it's certainly one of the first places that comes to mind when the subject of tenor playing comes up. Whether they are from Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin or elsewhere -- whether their forte is hard bop, soul-jazz, post-bop or swing -- Texas' tenor players have been known for having fat tones and swinging aggressively. Spanning 1946-1969, this good to excellent compilation spotlights over a dozen tenor men who had some connection to the Lone Star State. They might not have spent their entire lives in Texas, but some type of Lone Star connection was there. Tenor fans will recognize most of the saxmen, who range from
Arnett Cobb,
King Curtis, and
Illinois Jacquet, to
Booker Ervin,
Budd Johnson, and
Don Wilkerson.
James Clay and
David "Fathead" Newman form a two-tenor front line for a 1960 interpretation of
Babs Gonzales' "Wide Open Spaces," while
Clifford Scott is featured on bluesman
Jimmy Witherspoon's "Cane River" from the same year. And
Wilton Felder of Crusaders fame is in fine form on organist
Charles Kynard's 1969 number "Stomp" (which boasts
Joe Pass on guitar). No,
Texas Tenors isn't the last word on tenor men from the Lone Star State; but it's a rewarding collection that's well worth picking up. ~ Alex Henderson