Alexander the Great (Eric Alexander album) explained

Alexander the Great
Type:Studio
Artist:Eric Alexander
Cover:Alexander the Great (Eric Alexander album).jpg
Released:2000
Recorded:May 8, 1997
Studio:Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Genre:Jazz
Length:55:44
Label:HighNote
HCD 7013
Producer:Charles Earland
Chronology:Eric Alexander
Prev Title:Man with a Horn
Prev Year:1997
Next Title:Heavy Hitters
Next Year:1998

Alexander the Great is an album by saxophonist Eric Alexander which was recorded in 1997 and released on the HighNote label in 2000.[1] [2]

Reception

In his review on Allmusic, Michael G. Nastos states "The combination of tenor saxophonist Alexander, trumpeter Jim Rotundi, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Joe Farnsworth has yielded great results, with the collective One for All and their own individual bands. Their longstanding association with organ master Charles Earland unfortunately ends with this CD, as Earland has passed away. So this is their last chance to cook with the Mighty Burner, and they do it up right. Although this is Alexander's date, all five take equal roles in this effort". On All About Jazz, David A. Orthmann said "In contrast to Alexander’s regular, straight-ahead fare as a leader for a number of record labels, Alexander the Great pretty much sticks to the formula of Earland’s popular recordings for Muse and HighNote, with an emphasis on funk and soul grooves".[3] In JazzTimes, Miles Jordan wrote "Alexander is in the tradition of Windy City tenormen, and it’s entirely appropriate that he’s reunited here with B-3 boss Charles Earland, with whom he earned a name for himself after landing in Chicago about 10 years ago ... Recorded just three months after the hornmen guested on the late Earland’s Blowing the Blues 1997 HighNote CD, the three principals continue the mood established there".[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Eric Alexander except where noted

  1. "Burner's Waltz" – 7:32
  2. "Let's Stay Together" (Al Green, Al Jackson Jr., Willie Mitchell) – 6:00
  3. "God Bless the Child" (Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr.) – 6:31
  4. "Explosion" – 8:11
  5. "Through the Fire" (David Foster, Tom Keane, Cynthia Weil) – 5:24
  6. "Soft Winds" (Benny Goodman, Fred Royal) – 8:13
  7. "Born to Be Blue" (Robert Wells, Mel Tormé) – 5:57
  8. "Carrot Cake" (Peter Bernstein) – 7:56

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. http://www.jazzdepot.com/e_alexander/7013.html Jazz Depot: HighNote discography
  2. https://www.ericalexanderjazz.com/ Eric Alexander website
  3. Orthmann, D. A. All About Jazz Review, accessed October 24, 2018
  4. Jordan, M. JazzTimes Review, accessed October 24, 2018