Saxophonist Jon Gordon had an introduction to 7th Avenue South back in the 1980s, when it seemed to be a jazz fans’ paradise, being the location of the Village Vanguard (still very much alive and well), Sweet Basil and the Brecker Brothers’ own Seventh Avenue South club. If you couldn’t find anything to your taste in that trio of clubs, then the Village Gate and Lush Life were only a hop away.
This CD represents his homage to those times and should be welcomed by those of us who may have attended any of those venues way back when. If this music doesn’t quite carry the potency of the sounds we experienced between those revered walls, Gordon’s personal memories that inspired this release should be respected.
The band is tight enough and the addition of a vocalist on a number of tracks certainly fleshes out the ensembles, although the inclusion of a choir on the opening and closing pieces, presumably conceived for celebratory purposes, could be perceived as a step to far.
Apart from Lennon and McCartney’s Here, There And Everywhere we are treated to the leader’s work all the way, where he generates a balanced mood and rhythmic soup. The solos are in the good category with Gordon’s two horns much to the fore.
Discography
(1) Witness: (2) 7th Avenue South; (3) Ponder This; (2) Paradox; (4) Here, There; Ed’s Groove; Visit; (2) Intro; Spark; (1) 7th Avenue South Reprise (57.15)
(1) Gordon (as, ss); Jonathan Challoner (t); Walter Smith III (ts); Alan Ferber (tb); John Ellis (bcl); Jocelyn Gould (g); Will Bonness (p); Julian Bradford (b); Fabio Ragnelli (d); plus choir. Unknown location, 13-15 October 2023. (2) as (1) but omit choir. (3) as (2) but add Joanna Majoko (v). (4) as (2) but add Erin Propp (v).
ArtistShare AS0229
