Those who know Greene through his articulate tenor saxophone work with Tom Harrell will be startled by the first track here. The title, “Sense of Urgency,” is an extreme understatement. Greene’s commanding opening calls accumulate complexity over an obsessive crashing vamp by bassist Ugonna Okegwo and pianist Xavier Davis. Drummer Gregory Hutchinson storms and rages. Greene’s solo gets caught up in wild spins then splinters into jagged fragments. The rest of the album is more measured, and even has two grainy soprano saxophone ballads, but stays intense. The very best thing about the smalls-LIVE series is how these recordings recreate the visceral experience of Smalls, the hang itself. Engineer (and celebrated jazz photographer) Jimmy Katz comes up close on every instrument-appropriate for a club with 60 seats-but also lets in the applause, the tinkling glasses, the night air. ~ Extract by Thomas Conrad, jazztimes.com.
SmallsLIVE Records, SL - 0012,
2011
Recorded 19th & 20th February,
2010 Live at Smalls Jazz Club, Greenwich Village NYC
Musicians:
Jimmy Greene - Saxophone
Xavier Davis - Piano
Ugonna Okegwo - Bass
Gregory Hutchinson - Drums
Tracks:
1. Sense Of Urgency {Jimmy
Greene} (11:59)
2. Ugly Beauty {Thelonious
Monk} (10:37)
3. Soul Music {Jimmy Greene}
(12:10)
4. Self Portrait #1 {Jimmy
Greene} (9:14)
5. Home {Jimmy Greene} (7:03)
6. Bloomfield {Jimmy Greene}
(11:42)
Total Time: 62:46
Credits:
Producer, Executive Producer,
Liner Notes - Spike Wilner
Recording Engineer - Jimmy
Katz
Producer, Mixing Engineer -
Ben Rubin [House Of Cha Cha]
Mastering Engineer - Gene
Paul, Jamie Polaski [G & J Audio]
Design, Photography -
Michelle Watt
