RADAM SCHWARTZ

SAXOPHONE QUARTET MUSIC

Arabesque Records

Radam Schwartz, composer/arranger; Marcus G. Miller, soprano saxophone; Irwin Hall, alto saxophone; Anthony Ware, tenor saxophone; Max Schweiger, baritone saxophone. GUEST ARTISTS: Micha Josephs, guitar; Carrie Jackson, vocals; Andrew Atkinson, percussion.

Radam Schwartz is well-known in the jazz world as a jazz organist.  His recordings as a bandleader have invigorated the hard bop and soul jazz traditions of jazz organ.  He’s worked with such luminaries as Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Al Hibbler, David “Fathead” Newman, Russell Malone, and Cecil Brooks III.  He traveled and toured with Arthur Prysock.  But this time, Schwartz is not performing as an organist.

On this production, Schwartz is featuring some of his most talented music students who interpret his compositions and embrace his arranging skills. This is an album of saxophone quartet music.

Today, in addition to his piano and organ playing, Schwartz celebrates his talent as a composer, arranger, and jazz educator. One of his dream projects was to hear his compositions for saxophone quartet music come alive.  That dream comes true with this project.

Carefully choosing some of his most skilled and talented former students from the Jazz Institute of New Jersey, Marcus G. Miller, Irwin Hall, Anthony Ware and Schwartz’s friend, baritone sax man, Max Schweiger, step forward.  The result is this project that has blossomed into a unique and entertaining album.

Using the horns to lay down a rhythmic background, on the first tune called “Let’s Hear It For the Boy” I get an idea of the Schwartz concept. Marcus G. Miller is the soloist on his soprano saxophone. This is not an original song, but one that vocalist Deniece Williams made popular in the 1980s. Track #2 lets the baritone sax begin the piece, the way a double bass would.  When the other horns join in, they create a melodic pattern that acts as a rhythm section.  This tune, “Sway in Rincóin” is an ode to his wife’s hometown on the West Coast of Puerto Rico.  I enjoy hearing Max Schweiger step out-front to solo on his baritone saxophone.

This is an unusual musical adventure, to feature horns in a situation without a rhythm section and no string instruments to ground the production. It’s both creative and challenging to compose and arrange for a saxophone quartet, but Radam Schwartz makes it seem easy.  He does add special guest Misha Josephs on guitar during the second tune and Carrie Jackson adds her warm, soulful vocals on track four, singing one of my favorite songs that Les McCann recorded, “With These Hands.”  Another favorite that Schwartz composed is a tune with a profound title, “As Long As You’re Remembered (You’re Still Alive).”  On this one he invites percussionist Andrew Atkinson to add rhythm to the arrangement.  One of the most beautiful arrangements on this album is a song called “Many Seasons Wise One” that features a stellar saxophone solo by Anthony Ware.

Certainly, this Saxophone Quartet Music is a unique addition to the Radam Schwartz’s discography and to his musical accomplishments.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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