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As difficult times often beget new beginnings, the COVID-19
quagmire gave birth to alto saxophonist Eric Alexander. To some, a
tenor-to-alto switch may not seem to be a newsworthy matter, but
for the initiated it's the stuff of headlines. An inveterate tenor
at the apex of the scene for more than three decades, Eric put the
alto away in his teen years and never looked back. “But with the
dearth of opportunities to play during the pandemic, I started to
work on it,” he confesses. After successfully pitching the idea of
using his second saxophone-with-strings project as a debut on
alto, the present recording is quite simply astounding. Working
with his regular rhythm section and adding ace string
arrangements, this altoist delivers one revelatory performance
after another.
ERIC ALEXANDER, alto saxophone • David Hazeltine,
piano • John Webber, bass • Joe Farnsworth, drums
String arrangements and conducting by Bill Dobbins (tracks 2–8
only)
TRACKS: Blues for Diane • Embraceable You • All My
Tomorrows • Maybe September • To Love and Be Loved • Anita • She
Was Too Good to Me • Too Late Now • Blues for Diane (Alternate
Take)
All
My Tomorrows
Too
Late Now
Embraceable
You
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