Jeff Hackworth - The Heart of the Matter

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:43
Size: 144,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:51)  1. Big Bad Boogaloo
(5:44)  2. Fool That I Am
(5:53)  3. That Old Black Magic
(6:34)  4. 3rd Avenue Blues
(8:13)  5. September Song
(6:00)  6. Sweet Tea
(7:09)  7. The Heart of the Matter
(7:15)  8. Mr. Gentle and Mr. Cool
(6:59)  9. Tres Palabras

Veteran tenor saxophonist Jeff Hackworth doesn't fool around much on his most recent musical project and gets right to The Heart of The Matter, unveiling his seventh album as leader and follow up to his previous critically-acclaimed Soul To Go! (Big Bridge Music, 2014). Employing a muscular approach to the saxophone, Hackworth's tenor voice is pronounced here leaving little doubt that one is in for a bit of tenor madness from one of the finest reed men around. Containing four originals and fresh new treatments of five well-known standards, the music is contemporary straight ahead with a touch of soul, blues, burners and ballads all in one nice musical package that goes right to the heart.  A mainstay of New York's vibrant jazz scene, Hackworth naturally selects a group of top notch New York City sidemen to accompany him on this album but eschews the standard bass and the piano instruments in lieu of the organ and guitar for a distinctive rhythm section. Featured here are drummer Vince Ector with guitarist Ed Cherry and organist Kyle Koehler rounding out the cast of this non-standard, different, stylish and very formidable quartet. Ector's rolling drum solo intro on Hackworth's original chart "Big Bad Boogaloo" gets the music going on the steamy side with a lively up tempo burner that showcases the more than appreciable chops of the leader. Floyd Hunt's 1947 composition "Fool That I Am," is the first ballad performed here with Hackworth doing a marvelous job on one soulful tenor solo after another with one of the finest version of the standard recorded to date. The magic continues on the following Arlen/Mercer classic "That Old Black Magic," featuring all of the bandmates on separate solos in one fine swinging rendition of the standard. The original "September Song" is somewhat special for Hackworth as he states "I like to tell a story when I improvise and this song...sets the stage..." and so this one certainly does, telling a tale of great music. 

The saxophonist pays homage to "The Sugar Man" or "Mr. T" as he was better known, the late great Stanley Turrentine would have been more than pleased with Hackworth's "Sweat Tea" and the bluesy title track, both tunes displaying superb examples of tenor voicings Mr. T would have identified with. The set begins to close on an often overlooked composition by the great Duke Ellington with Hackworth and crew delivering a superb rendition of "Mr. Gentle and Mr. Cool," then finalizing the album on a delicate embrace of the gorgeous "Tres Palabras."  Tenorist Jeff Hackworth makes it quite clear that The Heart of the Matter, is providing good music, and on that account, Hackworth and crew craft another delicious statement worth repeated spins and more serious attention, well done! ~ Edward Blanco https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-heart-of-the-matter-jeff-hackworth-big-bridge-music-review-by-edward-blanco.php

Personnel:  Jeff Hackworth: tenor saxophone;  Ed Cherry: guitar;  Kyle Koehler: organ;  Vince Ector: drums.

The Heart of the Matter

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Jeff Hackworth - Where The Blue Begins

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:44
Size: 133,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:35)  1. Can't Help Falling In Love
(6:45)  2. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
(5:24)  3. What Will I Tell My Heart
(4:31)  4. Just A Sittin' And A Rockin'
(7:10)  5. Just One More Chance
(3:02)  6. Stranger In Paradise
(6:16)  7. Oh You Crazy Moon
(4:56)  8. One Mint Julip
(6:27)  9. Then I'll Be Tired Of You
(4:35) 10. Stairway To The Stars

Tenor saxophonist Jeff Hackworth is back. This time he has chosen to dwell on 10 pop tunes. On his previous CD, How Little We Know (Big Bridge Music, 2007), he brought to the fore his fluent sense of style and development. He shows that once again on Where the Blue Begins, as he gives the songs their integral melodic due and then turns them into pleasant little experiences. Hackworth has a firm grip on emotion and never lets a song descend into pap. His natural sense of swing runs a balmy air through several of the selections. However, when it comes to Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” Hackworth has a becoming take on the indelible classic. He sways in with deep phrases, letting the redolent melody rise, and then switches the rhythm to a bossa. It’s done very nicely indeed, and the tune breathes freely of the new idiom. Jazz harmony is present in the development, and Hackworth knows just how to make that perceptible. 

At first, “One Mint Julep” is pure funk. The beat is buoyant, Hackworth revels in the music, and then as he likes to do, makes a switch. Then it’s time for some earthy swing, and the band fires it up with Lafayette Harris Jr. on piano and John Basili on guitar adding juicy runs. This certainly is top-notch. Hackworth is at ease in any tempo, and he mixes the tunes for maximum impact. He closes out with another strong effort in the beautiful ballad “Stairway to the Stars.” His pacing is articulate and deliberate, and he invests just the right sentiment. Some fine brushwork from Alvin Atkinson adds to the appeal. Pop music has had its votaries among jazz musicians. Turning them into jazz tunes, even in a contemporary styling has not always been successful. Hackworth proves otherwise. ~ Jerry D’Souza  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/where-the-blue-begins-jeff-hackworth-big-bridge-music-review-by-jerry-dsouza.php
 

Personnel: Jeff Hackworth: tenor saxophone; Lafayette Harris Jr.: piano; John Webber: bass; Alvin Atkinson: drums; John Basili: guitar (1, 4, 7, 8, 9).

Where The Blue Begins

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Jeff Hackworth - Soul To Go

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:18
Size: 127,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:39)  1. Soul To Go!
(5:28)  2. Autumn Nocturne
(7:29)  3. The Feeling Of Jazz
(6:18)  4. Wise One
(4:38)  5. Blues In A Few
(6:33)  6. Little Girl Blue
(6:21)  7. Live And Learn
(4:33)  8. Under A Strayhorn Sky
(8:16)  9. Vaya Con Dios

His fifth album as leader and follow up to the critically acclaimed Night Owl (Big Bridge Music, 2011), Jeff Hackworth's Soul To Go! offers a brash new statement packed with bop, blues and soulful renditions of jazz classics. A New York based saxophonist of note, and like many a great sax men Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley and Stan Getz among others who have called the Big Apple their home at some point in their respective careers, has the benefit of drawing from the jazz-rich environment of the city for a supporting cast of players which he does for this effort. Among the veteran musicians all leaders in their own right of his vibrant quartet, is legendary guitarist Ed Cherry best known for his long association with the Dizzy Gillespie bands who along with fellow band mate, Hammond B3 specialist Radam Schwartz make immediate impressions on the opening salvo and title piece "Soul To Go!. 

Arthur Prysock and David "Fathead" Newman drummer Vince Ector, anchors the rhythm section delivering a pounding beat when required and a light brushes on obvious balladic tracks like the beautiful "Autumn Nocturne" and others. The Ellington/Troup classic "The Feeling of Jazz" gets a relaxed humble read from the band yet, offers plenty of solo space for Hackworth and others. Sounding a tad like the master himself, the saxophonist delivers a superb Coltrane-like performance on a fresh new arrangement of Trane's "Wise One," followed by a spicy saxophone-led blues rumble on the original "Blues In A Few," which happens to showcase appreciable solo support from every member of the group. Featuring the tender side of Hackworth's tenor saxophone voice, the music turns soft and gentle on a delicious rendition of the Rogers and Hart standard "Little Girl Blue," then, with strong highlights from Cherry, slides into a bit more upbeat texture on the original, "Live and Learn."  

Providing some of his best solo sparks of the disc, Hackworth winds down the music with the burning Billy Strayhorn tribute, "Under A Strayhorn Sky" and comes to a swinging finale in a muscular reprisal of the old Larry Russell/Inez James/Buddy Pepper song "Vaya Con Dios" sounding much livelier than when first recorded by the late Anita O'Day in 1952, making this one of the definite highlights of the album. Hackworth states ..."my fifth album as a leader and I think It's my best yet," while obviously not an objective statement by any measure, delivered from a body of tender swinging sounds, Soul To Go! captures an exciting command performance from which, drawing such a conclusion, is certainly understandable. ~ Edward Blanco  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/soul-to-go-jeff-hackworth-big-bridge-music-review-by-edward-blanco.php#.U_GD-GMfLP8
 

Personnel: Jeff Hackworth: tenor Saxophone; Ed Cherry: guitar; Radam Schwartz: Hammond B3 organ; Vince Ector: drums.

Soul To Go

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