Album Review of
The Ripple

Label: Rupe Media

Genres: Jazz, Unknown

Styles: Mainstream Jazz, Unknown

Written by Joe Ross
February 5, 2020 - 7:06pm EST
Review Rating Star Review Rating Star Review Rating Star Review Rating Star Review Rating Star

Tenor saxophonist Lester Young (1909-1959) was a major influence on many musicians. With its light tone, slow vibrato and buoyant phrasing, Young’s playing served as a model for “cool jazz.”  On this album, Rupert and George Garzone pay tribute to the far-reaching impact, “The Ripple” of Young’s musical vocabulary. The two tenor saxophonists feature pieces by musicians (e.g. Stan Getz, Eddie Harris, Dexter Gordon, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson) who were influenced by Young in their own compositions and recordings. Rupert, Director of Jazz Studies at University of Central Florida, arranged the songs, and three of his originals (“GO-GO,” “Hoboken” and “Beauty Becomes Her”) appear in the set. A veteran jazzman, Garzone has done extensive recording and touring, as well as teaching at Berklee College of Music. Also featuring Richard Drexler (piano), Jeremy Allen (bass) and Marty Morell (drums), “The Ripple” is a swinging project with airy sound, soft colorings, and innovative phrasings.  Tracks like “Stardust,” “Without a Song,” “The Shadow of Your Smile,” “The Red Door” and “Red Top” are presented with considerable emotion, inflection, sensitivity and nuance. With its real sweet groove, this album’s melodic conversations are full of tasty, profound musical statements from start to finish. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)