With a bumper crowd of jazz tenor saxophonists emerging during the last two decades of the 20th century, it is easy for a listener to get overwhelmed with choosing new artists to explore. But
Joel Frahm already had several strong CDs as a leader under his belt before recording his first session for a brand new label, Anzic. The big-toned player benefits from a seasoned rhythm section, including pianist
Kenny Barron (whom he met while he was a student at Rutgers), bassist
Rufus Reid, and drummer
Victor Lewis. Rather than choose the easy way and cover a lot of familiar standards and jazz compositions,
Frahm opts for a well-conceived collection of original compositions, including the loping "Bob's Blues" and the spry, twisting "A Whole New You."
Frahm invited
Barron to share a couple of pieces written some time ago, including the lush ballad "Song for Abdullah" and the gentle bossa nova "Joanne Julia," the latter bringing
Barron's recorded collaborations with
Stan Getz. When
Frahm calls for standards, his choice of "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" and "My Ideal" are excellent vehicles to showcase his lyrical side. Beautifully recorded and well played throughout the session,
Joel Frahm has made it known he is on the jazz scene to stay. ~ Ken Dryden