Steve Grossman Quartet with Michael Petrucciani (2000)

About this title: In this final recording with pianist Michel Petrucciani, saxophonist Grossman's usually more extroverted tendencies are willingly sublimated in order to play more romantically inclined mainstream jazz. Many of the tunes are ballads, embellished by Petrucciani's languid or forceful pianistics, while solid bassist Andy McKee and drummer Joe Farnsworth keep the flickering flame alive with their steadying rhythms. Of course the fire has to be stoked on occasion, and Grossman really digs in on the Sonny Rollins evergreen "Why Dont I?" It's perfectly played, a flawless uptempo swinger with head ... read more

Tracks:

1. Ebb Tide [Maxwell/Sigman]
2. Inner Circle [McKee]
3. Song for My Mother [Grossman]
4. Parisian Welcome [Petrucciani]
5. You Go to My Head [Coots/Gillespie]
6. Body and Soul [Eyton/Green/Heyman/]
7. Why Don't I [Rollins]
8. Don't Blame Me [Fields/McHugh]
9. Theme for Ernie [Lacey]
10. In a Sentimental Mood [Ellington/Kurtz/Mil]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.