Search - Joe Temperley :: Temperley, Joe: Double Duke

A Blowing Date Like They Don't Make Them Anymore

Thomas Storer | Paris, France | 06/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Joe Temperley, who briefly succeeded Harry Carney in Duke Ellington's band, holds down the baritone saxophone chair in Wynton Marsalis's controversial Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. One thing about which there is no debate is Temperley's talent. For "Double Duke" (not another Ellington homage, as 5 out of 9 tracks are *not* by Duke or Strayhorn), Temperley invites his LCJO bandmates Wycliffe Gordon (trombone), Eric Reed (piano), Rodney Whitaker (bass) and Herlin Riley (drums) to burn through an old-fashioned blowing session so tight and tasty you wish there were more of them being made. Yes, this is basically head-solos-head, but Temperley and Gordon are such strong soloists, and the rhythm section is so on-the-money, that you just don't get bored. You might get a cramp from tapping your foot or snapping your fingers, though: Herlin Riley is a delight throughout. In addition to baritone, Temperley shines on bass clarinet ("Black and Tan Fantasy") and soprano sax ("Fascinatin' Rhythm"); Reed has a feature on "Elsa," and Gordon is in the spotlight in the affecting "Danny Boy," played with a mute. "Double Duke" is not just more neobop or fawning over Ellington: it's a fine, swinging, straight-ahead album well worth having."