Houston Person: My Romance (1988)

High Note Records, founded by the former owners of Muse Records, has retained some of the defunct label's more talented performers, one of them being Houston Person. Appearing as a leader, sideman, or guest on well over 100 recordings, Person uses his knowledge and experience to revisit nine very familiar standards with his big, full-bodied, soulful tenor saxophone. Although Person is the headliner on this set, pianist Richard Wyands gets a considerable amount of solo time. Wyands is right at home with Person, having been associated with a tenor saxman from the same school, if not the same class, as Person -- Gene Ammons. Wyands is awarded an especially long solo on "Mean to Me." Person's arrangements can be imaginative. The title tune, "My Romance," opens with Person's deep saxophone with just Kenny Washington's brushes behind him, seguing into a Ray Drummond bass solo. Everything on the album is understated, with most of the tunes delivered in a slow, deliberate tempo. There's an occasional nod to medium tempo, as on "Love Is Here to Stay." Given the very intimate nature of the session, this recording could easily have been of a live performance from a small, smoky lounge. All that's missing are the tinkling glasses in the background and the light, knowledgeable applause of jazz fans who've dropped by to enjoy an evening of good music played by top jazz musicians. Those who prefer a harsh, more cutting element to their music may find this album somewhat too slick for their tastes. This session is a reminder of the pleasures that the intimate side of jazz offers. ~ Dave Nathan

Tracklist:

01. But Beautiful 06:14
02. Blue Moon 05:50
03. Laura 07:32
04. Very Thought of You 04:58
05. Mean to Me 07:40
06. My Romance 05:54
07. Stairway to the Stars 05:42
08. Love Is Here to Stay 05:05
09. Time After Time 06:46
Personnel:
Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone
Richard Wyands - Piano
Ray Drummond - Bass
Kenny Washington - Drums
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Houston Person: Suspicions (1980)

Some robust funk and fine soul licks, plus solid mainstream fare. Recorded at Van Gelder Recording Studio, Englewood Cliffs, N.J. - April 24, 1980.

Tracklist:
A1 Suspicions 5:26
A2 If 3:55
A3 Me & Me Brudder 3:25
A4 Pieces 5:07
B1 Blue Monk 8:42
B2 This Bitter Earth 4:44
B3 Let's Love Again 4:58
Personnel:
Arranged By, Keyboards – Horace Ott
Bass – "Bad" Wilbur Bascomb*
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Jack Cavari, Melvin Sparks Hassan*
Keyboards – Ernie Hayes, Sonny Phillips
Percussion – Ralph Dorsey
Producer – Houston Person
Saxophone [Tenor] – Houston Person
Trumpet – Virgil Jones
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Houston Person: So Nice (2011)

Mom's meatloaf is wonderfully predictable. You always know what you're going to get, and after decades, you've come to rely on it. Why? Because there's something intimately reassuring about knowing that when you go back for more, it's the same as the last time. A recipe change would be simply unthinkable. It's comfort food. Oh, and by the way, it's delicious. Houston Person albums are like mom's meatloaf. There are never any surprises. The name on the cover announces a creamy tenor saxophone destined to play a mix of standards and ballads with the oddball pop cover thrown in for the kids. Person's tenure on the HighNote Label, now into its third decade, is one of the most consistent in jazz. His emotive delivery, impeccably played with flawless sidemen, all beautifully recorded by the legendary Rudy Van Gelder, is as consistent as that meatloaf, and that's the way it should be. Person isn't taking any creative risks on So Nice. The album opens with an old trick on the up-tempo ditty "Blues Everywhere." The track round-robins the soloing in a formulaic progression so that everyone gets an equal spotlight. It's more an announcement of who's on the date than an actual creative outlet, but the quality of the work promises good things from the rest of the record. The ultimate Person moment comes late on the album, with "Easy Living." His pronouncement of the melody is so rich and full that if he'd closed the song after three bars it still would have been worth hearing. He keeps soloing to a minimum, preferring to let the melody do the work for him. It's the wise choice of an experienced balladeer, and it's perfect. Another treat is the "Stephen Sondheim Medley." Played as a duet with pianist John Di Martino, Person's delivery is so warm and buttery that it just melts out of the speakers. HighNote has always maintained consistently high production values on Person's records, and So Nice is no exception. The sound is gigantic, with the piano filling the full space that a six-foot long percussion instrument requires. Person's big horn is always right up front with appropriate weight, scale, and those gorgeous tonal colors. Every instrument is crisp and clear, and correctly scaled. The world would be a better place if every jazz record were recorded like this. No, Houston Person isn't breaking any new ground with So Nice. He doesn't have to. He does what he does, and he does it really well. You'd never tell mom how to improve her meatloaf, and Person has earned the same respect with his music. This guy is a treasure. Keep playing it, brother; keep playing it.

Tracklist:
01. Blues Everywhere
02. All Too Soon
03. I Wished On The Moon
04. Kiss And Run
05. So Nice
06. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
07. Close To You
08. Star Eyes
09. Minor Inconvenience
10. Easy Living
11. Everything I Love
12. Stephen Sondheim Medley
Personnel: Houston Person: tenor saxophone; Warren Vache: Cornet and Flugelhorn (1-3, 8); Mark Patterson: Trombone (1, 5, 6, 8, 9); John Di Martino: piano; Howard Alden: guitar (1, 2, 9-11); Ray Drummond: bass; Lewis Nash: drums.

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Warren Vache: Ballads and Other Cautionary Tales (2011)

Ballad playing may be the most difficult jazz style to master and the one that requires the most maturity and life experience. Even the most talented younger players are often stymied when confronted with the challenges of preserving a melody while stamping it with their own imprimatur. Warren Vach is one of jazz’s finest balladeers...... Although he has always been one of the most consistently inspired jazz performers, in recent years his playing seems to reflect an even deeper emotional commitment which, combined with his omnipresent technique, has led him to new artistic heights as is evident on this superb set. From the album notes by Ed Berger, Associate Director, Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies

Tracklist:
01. Ballad For Very Tired and Very Sad Lotus Eaters - 5:05
02. Solitude - 7:25
03. I See Your Face Before Me - 7:42
04. Fools Rush In - 6:37
05. I Have Dreamed - 6:39
06. Autumn Serenade - 6:04
07. Everything Happens to Me - 7:17
08. I'll Only Miss Her When I Think of Her - 3:52
09. I'll Never Be the Same - 6:52
10. Stairway to the Stars - 5:21
11. I Remember You - 3:49
12. Don't You Know I Care - 4:28
Personnel:
Warren Vache: cornet
Tardo Hammer: piano (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9)
Richard Wyands: piano (tracks 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12)
Neal Miner: bass
Leroy Williams: drums
John Allred: trombone (track 2)
Houston Person: tenor sax (tracks 4, 7, 11)
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