Search - Nick Brignola :: Poinciana

Pretty good.

R. J. Maxwell | Deming, NM | 12/24/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hardly anyone without jazz afficion knows about Nick Brignola and his baritone sax, but he's worthy of note. The touchstone in baritone sax jazz has, justifiably, been Gerry Mulligan who makes a baritone sound like it ought to, a big beast of an instrument, huffing away. Mulligan lacks nothing in the way of technique or inspiration.



Brignola, however, approaches the instrument as just another saxophone. His touch is lighter. And he isn't given to counterpoint. I first heard him on an NYC jazz station about ten years ago, his version of "Star Eyes", and I wondered who IS this guy. The tempo was fast, and Brignola threw away little pieces of the melody that could have been milked for sentiment.



He's got a first-rate percussionist on this album. "Poinciana" demonstrates his range and is, alone, worth the price of admission.



Well worth adding to your collection."