Mark Douthit - Groove

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:48
Size: 123,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:04)  1. What a Shame
(5:19)  2. You And I
(4:08)  3. You Can't Hide Love
(5:34)  4. What You Won't Do For Love
(5:31)  5. Sunset Beach
(6:59)  6. Linda
(5:17)  7. Use Me
(6:08)  8. Voice Of The Heart
(4:35)  9. I Just Want To Stop
(5:10) 10. What Was

Douthit turns in a textbook easy listening performance on his Hillsboro Jazz debut. He has the distorted upper-register growl; the urgent intonation; the full-bored, slightly quivery Kenny G-like timbre on alto; the blues/gospel licks; and, quite likely, the squint-eyed grimace on high notes that are apparently required for this genre, along with the velvety electric piano backup, gently insistent drums, and other similar essentials. His arrangements nod toward a Steely Dan influence, and not just on the cover of "What a Shame About Me," with the kind of milky brass unison lines and sharp horn jabs that have long been a hallmark of Donald Fagen's charts. 

Douthit writes with a concise technique and an ear for a hook; the last four bars of the chorus on his "Voice of the Heart," for instance, tweak the chord movement in order to nudge the tune along to the next verse a nice, though not exactly riveting, twist. The final track, a rendering of Stevie Wonder's "You and I," provides the most refreshing moment on the record, precisely because this piano/sax duo gives Douthit a chance to interact with one other musician rather than just fit into a fairly static rhythm bed. This proves both that Douthit has what it takes, and that it's possible to stretch out while still keeping your jazz "lite." ~ Robert L.Doerschuk  http://www.allmusic.com/album/groove-mw0000214502

Personnel : Mark Douthit (saxophone); Chris Rodriguez (vocals); Tom Hemby (guitar); Mike Haynes, Jeff Bailey (trumpet); Chris McDonald (trombone); Pat Coil (keyboards); Craig Nelson (bass); John Hammond (drums).

Groove

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