...stunning, forward-looking jazz..."Scooch" is a gem...A superb jazz and funk journey that will stand the test of time.
Developing his voice in Austin's fertile music scene over the last 20 years, saxophonist Russell Haight recorded Go Forth just days before relocating to upstate New York, as a document of the rich musical relationship he shared with his longtime collaborators, pianist Sean Giddings, bassist Ryan Hagler, and drummer Daniel Dufour. The set of nine Haight originals and two arrangements of classic jazz staples cover a lot of ground, with "Go Forth" and "Mystic Bud" offering high-energy angularity, "Waltz for J," "Reminiscence" and "Rich in Heart" abundant in memorable melodicism, and "Scooch" delivering a Southern funk to the session. Haight's eclectic musical sense, developed through decades of performances, including stints with artists such as pop icon Christopher Cross and blues singer Ruthie Foster, is on full display on this joyous outing.
1 Go Forth 5:34
2 Rich in Heart 7:12
3 Waltz for J 6:28
4 Mystic Bud 4:20
5 April Gray 6:12
6 Interlude 1:22
7 Night and Day 5:44
8 Over the Rainbow 5:57
9 A Morning Walk 6:25
10 Reminiscence 5:38
11 Scooch 5:23
All music by Russell Haight, Uffy Music, ASCAP, except:
(7) Cole Porter, Wc Music Corp
(8) Harold Arlen, EMI Music (arr. by Russell Haight)
Russell Haight - saxophones
Sean Giddings - piano
Ryan Hagler - bass
Daniel Dufour - drums
Produced by Russell Haight
Recorded & mixed by Charlie Kramsky
at Spectra Studios, Leander, Texas
Recorded on July 10-11, 2023
Mastered by Jerry Tubb
at Terra Nova Mastering, Austin, Texas
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Playing tenor and soprano sax, Russell Haight leads a team of Sean Giddings/p, Ryan Hagler/b and Daniel Dufour through a mix of originals and standards. Of the latter, his soprano goes modal over Dufour's Elvin Jones-inspired drums on "Night and Day", while his bold tenor sings to "Night and Day". Giddings has a fun and festive touch a la Vince Gua ...