Search - Rick Margitza :: Heart of Hearts

On Heart of Hearts, tenor and soprano saxist Rick Margitza and mates play with a relaxed, at times jaunty lilt that makes for pleasant, and, on occasion, compelling listening. Not that they don't swing hard and grab the ear, but there's a light crispness here that gives the music a slightly abstract feel. Margitza's tenor has a warm, mature tone, round and expressive, reminiscent of Charles Lloyd's. For most of the album, he melds John Coltrane-inspired phrasing with a light, Stan Getz-like sound that implies assurance and a hint of sentimentality. On the nine-minute "Father John," however, Margitza makes direct sonic references to the Coltrane influence, roaring through the changes with an edgy zeal; inexplicably, the cut fades out unresolved. Throughout, the rhythm section complements Margitza's perambulations in fine fashion, but, make no mistake, this is the sax player's show and he stretches out accordingly. --Wally Shoup