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Honkin' fever
This guy, that I've re-baptized “Honkin'
Sax Gordon”, puts in studio the same passion and energy he gives in
his live performances. His second album is rightly titled : he
really knocks you out with his explosive mix of bebop jazz, R'n'B,
jump and blues, accompanied by an exciting bunch of jumpers like
Marty Ballou (bass), Marty Richards (drums), Matt McCabe (piano), Tom
West (organ on three titles) and the ever excellent Duke Robillard
(guitar).
It all starts at 90 mph with a track
announcing what's awaiting you on the twelve muscular or cooler
following numbers. His tenor sax is switching from screaming to warm
bluesy jazz tenderness as the tracks unwind and you're getting
feverish after a few songs.
Gordon explores all possible styles from
1940s honking fast jump to bebop jazz, from swing to R'n'B, from
early rock'n'roll to blues, equally at ease in any type.
Among the 13 tracks of the album, almost
all stand out (at least according to my personal taste). The muscular
R'n'B “90 MPH” opens the party on a fast beat as its title
promises, followed by the
rock'n'rolling “Mishnock
Rock”. “Lonely For You” shows Gordon in a mellower style, while
the title song “You Knock Me Out” takes us in a 1940s
throw-back atmosphere with its vocal harmonies by Robillard and Sugar
Ray Norcia.
The irresistible swinging “Speed Rack”
is short but not far from being the big highlight of the album.
“By-ya” sounds like an early R'n'B, with a great Tom West on
organ. Set for the blues ? Listen to “Tino's Dream” (also
featured on the “Live At The Sax Blast” album). Throw-back
atmosphere again with a kind of big band feel on the lazy “Big
Mouth” featuring a short but finely chiseled piece of jazz guitar
from Robillard.
Rock'n'roll again with “Twenty Dollar
Gig” , and another blues with “Crawling Home” enhanced by
McCabe's appealing piano and a superb guitar solo by Robillard again.
Let's not forget the humorous “That Little Town Rocks” spoken by
Gordon (also featured on “Live At The Sax Blast”).
But the most impressive piece of the album
is certainly “Lorenzo Leaps In”, a great swinging bebop building
up in energy, an incredible lesson of wild sax by Gordon on tenor
seconded by Doug James' baritone and Robillard exciting jazz guitar.
If you like both jump rhythms and
saxophone, Gordon is probably the most exciting player around today.
To listen without restraint. ■
Saxy boy
Born in Detroit but now based in Boston after a detour in the Sacramento-San Francisco area, hard-driving tenor saxophonist "Sax" Gordon Beadle has played with an impressive list of soul, blues and rock musicians before recording his own albums (see his Bio link below).
This live is his third output and it gives a perfect idea of Gordon's mastery : more rhythm than blues, funky, jazzy… Listen to this incredible crescendo at the end of "DD Rider" ! Just hearing his short breath in his announcements between tracks, you know that the man doesn't save his energy and gives all he has !Accompanied by excellent musicians and alternating fast jumping numbers like "Banana Oil", "That Little Town Rocks" or "Have Horn Will Travel", with mellower ones like "Melancholy Serenade" or "Tino's Dream", the man doesn't lack a sense of humor either as the titles of the songs "DD Rider" and "For Whom The Horn Honks" testify.
This is the kind of music you appreciate more at each new playing. If you dig swinging, jumping, funky saxophone, this album is for you. ■
Bio
● "DD Rider" with the Jambalaya Band (Leo "Goodies" Boni : guitar & vocal - Alessandro Giobbi : keyboards & vocal - Carlo Bonamico : bass - Renzo Franchi : drums), Italy, 1998 : https://youtu.be/RCaf-PJ9vsc
Live video concerts & performances
● With the Lluís Coloma Trio (Lluís Coloma : piano - Manolo Germán : bass - Marc Ruíz : drums - Balta Bordoy : guitar), Barcelona, 2017 : https://youtu.be/M-oKpGWFL_U  |
With Jimmy Johnson (left) |
● At "Le Club Zaping" (France), with Nico Duportal (guitar, vocal), Cedric Legoff (keyboards), Antoine Escalier (bass), Fabrice Bessouat (drums), 2017 : https://youtu.be/5JWNLiomb88● With Jimmy Johnson at "Le Temps des Crises" (France) with Antoine Escalier (bass), Anthony Stelmaszackb & Xavier Pillac (guitar) & Fabrice Bessouat (drums), 2015 (skip first 6 mn) : https://youtu.be/vG9EH-SEMgg ● At the Slater's Art & Manufacture Festival, Pawtucket (Rhode Island), with Marty Ballou (bass), Marty Richards (drums) & Rob Nelson (guitar), 2015 : https://youtu.be/VXekncq46aA
● In Cingoli (Italy, with Walter Cesarani (bass), Fabrizio Ginoble (keyboards) & Lorenzo Poliandri (drums), 2014 : ● Sax Gordon's International Soul Caravan, Porretta Soul Festival, Vergato (Italy), 2013 :
 |
With Junior Watson (left)
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● With Junior Watson, Fred Kaplan, Kedar Roy & Rena Beavers, 2012 :
This live is his third output and it gives a perfect idea of Gordon's mastery : more rhythm than blues, funky, jazzy… Listen to this incredible crescendo at the end of "DD Rider" ! Just hearing his short breath in his announcements between tracks, you know that the man doesn't save his energy and gives all he has !
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