Four Brothers in Swinging, Joy Filled Jazz Set
John Tapscott | Canada | 04/10/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The "four brothers" saxophone blend (three tenors and a baritone) has been a foundational signature sound of the Woody Herman Big Bands from 1947 right up to and including the present day Herd. It is an enjoyable sound, and as "4 Brothers 7" proves, stands on its own with a rhythm section to provide a most satisfying and swinging set of music. The group on this CD is led by Frank Tiberi, the long-time Herman lead saxophonist and current leader of the Herman band.
Fittingly, all the musicians here are Herman alumni. Let's begin with the saxophones. Tiberi has a highly personal slant on the Coltrane sound, and is featured on lead and solo tenor throughout (and very effectively on soprano sax on two tracks). John Nugent has a slightly cooler take on the Coltrane sound. Larry McKenna (perhaps a new name to some) is out of the original "four brothers" school of Cohn, Sims, and Getz, while Mike Brignola anchors the section with his bop-based baritone. Tiberi is the leader, but the solo space is spread evenly among the saxophones. The soloists with their somewhat contrasting styles complement each other very well and are easily identified. The arrangements (all by band members) are imaginative, but never leave the straight ahead path, and the saxophone section sound is full and rich. The tight rhythm section of David Berkman on piano, bassist Lynn Seaton, and drummer Matt Wilson really lays down a swinging beat and is quite aggressive at times (hear Wilson behind Tiberi's solo on the saxophonist's "Buzzogle Boggled").
Herman fans will love the repertoire here, with six of the charts associated with the Herman band. While the awesome power of the Herman Herd is missing, you still get a good measure of the Herd's spirit, swing, and bluesy feeling on such tracks as "Four Brothers," The Goof and I," "Woody's Whistle," "Woody `N You," and "Woody's Lament." "Central Park West" is Tiberi's remake of John Fedchock's brilliant ballad arrangement for the Herman band. "Just You, Just Me" is an easy swinger arranged by Brignola. More advanced harmonic territory is explored on Tiberi's "The Garz and I". The hard swinging "Four of a Kind" showcases the composer Nugent on tenor as well as bassist Seaton in a vocal performance reminiscent of Herman's "Blues for Red." Hank Mobley's boppish "Tenor Conclave" features all seven musicians in solo turns and rounds out the CD in a swinging and satisfying way. The recorded sound and stereo mix are superb throughout this 57 minute CD, though no recording date is given. (The soloists are listed, but contrary to the CD insert, the correct solo order on "Four Brothers" is McKenna, Tiberi, Nugent and Brignola, while the unnamed tenor soloist on "Just You, Just Me" is McKenna).
"4 Brothers 7" is bright, joy-filled recording and another jewel in the Jazzed Media catalogue. The music on this highly recommended CD lifts the listener's spirits and proves once again the enduring worth and continued development of the Herman tradition."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1