Reunion

The two tenor concept is nothing new in jazz. But when played by the best of the lot, it can be highly exciting and musically fulfilling. Such is the case here with Seattle veteran Caliman and LA kingpin Christlieb. With an all-Seattle rhythm section of Bill Anschell, piano, Chuck Deardorf, bass, and John Bishop, drums, the two renew a long standing musical friendship with an album dotted with original compositions by its participants, and a few "for good measure standards." In his yourh, Caliman idolized Dexter Gordon to the point where "I had his sound down!" Caliman acquired the nickname "little Dex," hence the album opener, a vigorous Bill Anschell blues, is titled "Little Dex." The first of the standards follows in Freddie Hubbard's classic "Up Jumped Spring." Two Caliman originals follow; the high octane "Commencia" and the nearly plaintive "Gala." As fine as this meeting of two tenors undeniably is, the solo tunes for each tenor man are something to behold. Haliman's "I Thought About You" and Christlieb's "Dream On," utilizing "Darn That Dream" changes, both score major emotion points. Just to prove that their bop chops are solidly intact, the two tenor titans bring the show to a close with a bristling "Love For Sale." All of these pieces and more add up to a near lesson in jazz history from two cats who still have a story to tell.