AprilCadence2013

GREG ABATE
QUINTET
FEATURING PHIL
WOODS
RHOMBUS RECORDS 7112
ROGER OVER AND OUT
/ PEAR FOR THE BEAR
/ ROCCO’S PLACE /
CARMEL BY THE SEA /
MARNY / J.A.G. / SPECIAL
K / CONTEMPLATION /
GOODBYE MR. PEPPER /
REALIZATION. 69:21.
Greg Abate, as, ss, bari s,
flt; Phil Woods, as; Jesse
Green, p; Evan Gregor, b; Bill
Goodwin, d. 3/30-31/2012,
Saylorsburg, PA.
New Issues
176 | CadenCe Magazine | april May June 2013
decidedly credible post bop session fashioned by
A experts in the field. While leader Abate continues
to demonstrate his proficiency on an array of horns
( 4/03, p. 121 ), Woods remains faithful to his trusty
alto and brings it to bear on but five ( "Roger/Rocco's/
Carmel/J.A.G./Mr. Pepper" ) of the ten tracks. Eight of
the compositions are by Abate, with Woods contributing
his previously unrecorded homage to Art Pepper,
and "Marny" the only other non-Abate line.
The three tracks ("Roger/Carmel/Mr. Pepper") on
which both men play altos find them respecting each
other's space rather than intruding provocatively.
Neither man's solo on the Pepper tribute manages to
mirror anything like Art Pepper's reckless intensity,
which - in this case - is probably for the best. Abate
plays tasty flute to Woods' alto on "J.A.G." which he
explains is a dedication to his children, Jessica, Anthony
and Gregory, "written in early 2000…recorded first
on…Brazilia…with Saxophonist/Flutist Dan Moretti…"
( Kinda weird, then, that the Cadence review of the
Dan Moretti session cited was reviewed on page 92 of
our 3/96 issue. ) On the "Contemplation" track, Greg
asks that we hear his flute work as symbolizing the
"thoughts, dreams and wishes" he's had throughout his
life. I tried, but ended up wondering why the "flute" for
such heavy imput. I would think that such recondite
contemplation would call forth his baritone sax, which
he plays on "Rocco's" and the lovely ballad, "Marny,"
both times to excellent effect.
Finally, on "Realization," Abate pulls out the stops and
cooks aplenty on alto while the rhythm team bristles,
with tasty solos from both pianist Green and bassist
Goodwin. Never mind that my Mac wouldn't play the
last 20 seconds of this track (dunno why and neither
did Apple when I called them), my Onkyo did and it
was well worth getting up off my rusty dusty to make
the switch.
Alan Bargebuhr