Na 7 czerwca planowana jest premiera nowego albumu amerykańskiego saksofonisty tenorowego Jordona Dixona: "ON!". W nagraniu płyty uczestniczyli znakomici muzycy tworzący świetnie dobrany kwartet. Poza liderem skład tworzą: pianista Allyn Johnson, kontrabasista Herman Burney i perkusista Carroll V.Dashiell, III, a w jednym z utworów gościnnie wziął udział trębacz J.S.Williams.
Jordon Dixon urodził się w Baton Rouge (Luizjana) i dorastał w muzycznej rodzinie. Już jako nastolatek grywał w okolicznych barach i klubach jazzowych. Od 2013 roku mieszka w Waszyngtonie, a w 2016 roku opublikował swój debiutancki album „A Conversation Among Friends”. W tym samym roku uznany został przez Washington City Paper tytułem: Najlepszego saksofonisty tenorowego roku. W grze tenorzysty dostrzeżemy fascynację stylem takich mistrzów jak Dexter Gordon, czy Stanley Turrentine. Jednak jego pełne naturalnego swingu i bluesa uduchowione hard bopowe kompozycje, ukazują nam artystę dysponującego własnym, rozpoznawalnym stylem. "ON!" to album pełen świeżego spojrzenia na konwencję jazzu lat 50-tych i 60-tych.
Robert Ratajczak
LINK: RECENZJA PŁYTY
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Jordon DIXON: ON!
CD 2019, Jordon Dixon
program:
1. Notes from the Nook
2. Way too Serious
3. What You've Done for Me (alt. version)
4. We Kin
5. ON!
6. Flame and Friction
7. Lee Lee De (alt. version)
8. She Meant it when She Said it
9. Fake Flowers
10. Bonus track: Notes from the Nook (alternate take)
personel:
Jordon Dixon - saksofon
Allyn Johnson - fortepian
Herman Burney - kontrabas
Carrol V.Dashiell, III - perkusja
oraz:
J.S.Williams - trąbka
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tekst prasowy:
The soulful tenor-saxophonist Jordon Dixon performs a set of colorful originals that are swinging, bluesy and inventive, extending the traditions of soul jazz and hard bop.
Dixon’s second recording matches him with a top-notch rhythm section (pianist Allyn Johnson, bassist Herman Burney and drummer Carroll V. Dashiell, III.) plus the fiery trumpeter J.S. Williams on two songs.
An up-and-coming tenor-saxophonist who has a big sound and a soulful style that at times recalls both Stanley Turrentine and Dexter Gordon, Jordon Dixon is also a talented songwriter who performs nine of his originals during On!
Teamed up with pianist Allyn Johnson (the director of the jazz program at the University of the District of Columbia since 2005), bassist Herman Burney, drummer Carroll V. Dashiell, III. and (on two numbers) trumpeter J.S. Williams, Jordon Dixon presents an album that is bursting with both youthful fire and mature restraint, covering a variety of infectious grooves and moods.
The opener “Notes From The Nook” is a soulful strut in the Turrentine tradition that, in addition to a fine statement from the leader, includes a sophisticated piano solo and an impressive bowed bass improvisation by Burney. The playful “Way Too Serious” (which includes some sly quotes from pianist Johnson) is followed by “What You’ve Done For Me” a thoughtful romantic ballad on which Dixon lets the melody and his soulful tone tell the story.
The other songs include the medium-tempo “We Kin” (on which Johnson takes a solo worthy of McCoy Tyner), the cooking “On” the swinging hard bop romp “Lee Lee Dee” and the sensitive “She Meant It When She Said It”. Trumpeter J.S. Williams is a major asset on the sly lowdown blues “Flame And Friction” and the celebratory New Orleans-inspired “Fake Flowers” which has the same chord structure as “When The Saints Go Marching In” and is highlighted by a catchy drum solo full of parade rhythms. The set wraps up with a second and equally rewarding version of “Notes From The Nook”.
Jordon Dixon was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He started playing tenor-sax when he was 12 and was performing in local clubs within three years. After high school, he enlisted in the Marines, serving the country for 11 years and having many opportunities to perform music. After his honorable discharge, he moved to Washington D.C. and enrolled in the music program at the University of the District of Columbia, meeting and playing with Allyn Johnson. He graduated in 2016, the same year that he made his recording debut with A Conversation Among Friends which, like On, is comprised of his originals and has fine piano playing from Johnson.
An important part of the Washington D.C. jazz scene, Jordon Dixon is a talented tenor-saxophonist and composer who during On! shows that he is increasingly a musical force to be reckoned with.
