Label: WJ3 Records, 2020
Personnel - Gregory Tardy: alto saxophone; Alex Norris: trumpet; Keith Brown: piano; Alex Claffy: bass; Willie Jones III: drums.
If Time Could Stand Still is the new album from New Orleans-born saxophonist Gregory Tardy, who manifests his passion for swing and jazz tradition in a primarily quartet set with pianist Keith Brown, bassist Alex Claffy, and drummer Willie Jones III, who also takes credit for the production. On two tracks, the presence of trumpeter Alex Norris transforms the group into a two-horn quintet. The material presented here consists of originals with the exception of the ballad standard “Everything Happens To Me”.
The majestic opener, “A Great Cloud of Witnesses”, happens to be the best track on the record. Drum rhythms from Burundi were the mighty inspiration to Tardy here, who, after record them, gave the tune the aspect of a soulful modal jazz gospelized by a strong spiritual charisma. Immediately upon Brown’s resplendent improvisation devised with inside/outside expertise, the saxophonist structures an eloquent statement, expressing it with staggering agility.
Commanding the dynamics with an adequate build-and-release tension, Tardy and his crew dive headfirst into “The Message in the Miracle”, a disciplined hard-bop endeavor evoking Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers. Under the deep swinging traction imposed by Claffy and Jones III, it’s the trumpet of Norris that stands out with a mix of speed, fluidity and articulation.
In addition to the latter piece, the ensemble proves they can generate a full head of steam when necessary, especially via unmitigated swingers like “Absolute Truth”, a 12-bar blues featuring trade offs between the soloists and the drummer, and the elated “I Swing Because I’m Happy”, a dedication to alto saxophonist Sherman Irby that evokes a spiritual from 1905. Yet, quiet moments also have a place here, like the title cut, a tearful ballad delivered as a sax/piano duet.
Another interesting piece is “Blind Gates”, whose thematic riff in six, seductive harmonization and rhythmic magnetism provide a certain sense of exuberance in spite of having been written as an objection to America’s current political state. Tardy shows the reasons why he trusts this rhythm section, not only here, but also on the closing piece, “It Is Finished”, an uncompromising post-bop assertion delivered in five.
Tardy's capacity to produce good musical ideas is undeniable, and he masterfully conjures familiar moods on this recording, which - for good and for bad - is strongly tied to the jazz tradition.
Grade B
Favorite Tracks:
01 - A Great Cloud of Witnesses ► 03 - Blind Gates ► 07 - The Message in the Miracle