Dead Center

by Eric Alexander

Overview

Recalling the moody and atmospheric mid-to-late-'60s work of fellow reedmen Wayne Shorter and Hank Mobley, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander's Dead Center has a reflective quality that lends itself to such timely compositions as McCoy Tyner's "Search for Peace." It also reveals Alexander's lithe and gentle touch on standards including "Almost Like Being in Love," while lesser known works like Herbie Hancock's "Sonrisa" showcase his deft harmonic invention and superb rhythmic sense. Similarly, pianist Harold Mabern's groove-oriented "A Few Miles From Memphis" is propelled along by drummer Joe Farnsworth's soul-inflected beat with Alexander nudging lines back and forth deep inside the rhythm pocket. While not a significant departure from his past work, Dead Center nonetheless finds Alexander revealing himself as a grounded and muscular improviser who never takes his eye off the target. ~ Matt Collar

Product Details

Release Date:	09/14/2004
Label:	Highnote Records
UPC:	0632375713126
Rank:	106704

Tracks

1. One for Steve
2. Sonrisa
3. Almost Like Being in Love
4. It's Magic
5. A Few Miles from Memphis
6. Search for Peace
7. Dead Center
8. I Could Have Danced All Night

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Eric Alexander   Primary Artist,Sax (Tenor)
John Webber   Double Bass,Bass
Harold Mabern   Guest Artist,Piano
Joe Farnsworth   Drums

Technical Credits

Rudy Van Gelder   Audio Engineer,Mastering,Engineer,Mixing
Todd Barkan   Audio Production,Producer
Jule Styne   Composer
Derek Kwan   Producer
Eric Alexander   Composer
Alan Jay Lerner   Composer
Joe Fields   Executive Producer
Neil Tesser   Liner Notes
Frederick Loewe   Composer
Keiji Obata   Design
John Abbott   Photography
Junko Mayumi   Design
Sammy Cahn   Composer
Harold Mabern   Composer
McCoy Tyner   Composer
Maureen Sickler   Assistant
Herbie Hancock   Composer