In one word: Impressive.
For his newest release, saxophonist Alex Graham puts his impressive skills as an improviser, composer and arranger on display along with his top-flight New York rhythm section (pianist Rick Roe, bassist Rodney Whitaker and drummer Joe Strasser). Besides classics like The Good Life and I Had The Craziest Dream, Graham features seldom played gems like Wayne Shorter's It's a Long Way Down and Tadd Dameron's On a Misty Night along two compositions of his own.
Track Listing:
1. PUSH 10:47
2. I HAD THE CRAZIEST DREAM 9:20
3. IT'S A LONG WAY DOWN 8:13
4. THE GOOD LIFE 9:50
5. EXPLOSION 6:34
6. ON A MISTY NIGHT 10:11
Performers:
ALEX GRAHAM - alto saxophone, flute, clarinet
RICK ROE - piano
RODNEY WHITAKER - bass
JOE STRASSER - drums
Production Info:
Produced by TOM LEWAND and ALEX GRAHAM
Recorded at SOLID SOUND in Ann Arbor, MI, April, 1998
Engineered by WILL SPENCER
Photographs by KRISTI GRAHAM
Layout & design by JOHN BISHOP
Reviews of The Good Life
All About Jazz (Dan McClenaghan)
A quick trip to multiple reedman Alex Graham's web site finds his sound compared to Wayne Shorter, Dexter Gordon, and Horace Silver, but a couple of spins of The Good Life tells you that these reactions must be referring to the band's collective sound. Graham plays alto sax, flute, and clarinet -- the latter two reeds on the opener only-but he's an ...
All Music Guide (Adam Greenburg)
This quartet session, led by sax player Alex Graham, takes a crack at showing off all that can be right with a quartet in the post-bop era. The tone is generally light, with a fair amount of call and response between Graham's sax and the rhythm section. Generally the demeanor is bouncing, almost like an updated Sunny Side of the Street. The band de ...
Jazz Review (Tristan Smith)
In one word: Impressive. Alex Graham's The Good Life showcases not only his ability as a reedman but as an improviser, composer and arranger. Backed by a veteran New York rhythm section, Graham shows hints of Dexter Gordon and Horace Silver throughout the six compositions. Additionally, Graham's talents are furthered by the inclusion of two origina ...
JazzTimes April 2006 (David Franklin)
Altoist Alex Graham's The Good Life is easy-going, straightahead post-Coltrane hard bop executed with skill by all involved. Although released in late 2005, it was recorded less than three years after Graham's 1995 debut, Countdown. And it, too, includes Rick Roe on piano. This time, however the instrumentation is a basic quartet, and the bassis ...
Berman Music Review (Butch Berman)
With "The Good Life" and an entirely different back-up ensemble, Alex Graham has done it again, and in spades. Recorded back in 1998, this is truly a dynamite piece of work from beginning to end. It's another no-frills, straight-ahead jazz album played to perfection, and a song selection to match. Alex on alto, flute and clarinet is brilliantly sup ...
Berman Music Review (Butch Berman)
