Reviewed: 2018-05-05
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Eclipse is a wonderful third outing by Alexander. There is a nice range of tempos and feels, reflective moments and dramatic displays of virtuosity, and even moments of free group improvisation. Alexander is a confident and creative player that has a trio that converses with trust and respect. Adding the amazing sound of Joshua Redman on select tracks, and you have a magical, musical journey.
If You Like: Benny Green, Wynton Kelly, Herbie Hancock (acoustic)
Track Review (favorites denoted by *)
1/ Bali (5:02) – piano starts> midtempo jam> piano solo> jam> quick stop
*2/ Faithful (9:04) – bass starts> midtempo jam> sax solo> piano solo> drum solo> midtempo jam> slow fade
3/ Draw Me Nearer (4:38) - piano starts> slow jam> piano solo> slow jam> quick stop
*4/ Moment’s Notice (6:31) – piano starts slow & swings to uptempo jam> bass solo> piano solo> drum solo> uptempo jam> quick fade
5/ Blackbird (4:58) – piano starts> midtempo jam> piano solo> midtempo jam> slow fade
**6/ Eclipse (10:23) – piano starts slow> slow jam builds to midtempo, then gets interesting: flurries of notes with intersecting instruments> uptempo jam> slow fade
**7/ Fourteen (8:04) – piano starts> uptempo jam> sizzling sax solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> drum solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
8/ The Very Thought Of You (5:32) – piano starts> slow jam> sax solo> slow fade
*9/ Space (7:59) – piano starts> midtempo jam> piano solo swings into uptempo jam, then mellows to midtempo> piano/drum duet> midtempo jam> quick fade
*10/ Time Remembered (5:59) – piano starts> slow jam> piano solo swings uptempo then mellows into slow jam> quick fade
11/ Peace (5:19) – piano starts, slow & stately> slow jam> slow fade