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Hadley Caliman / Pete Christlieb: Reunion
ByCaliman's recording career went dormant for thirty yearsa drug problem, jail time, rehabilitation, and then the transition into a 22-year teaching career. His recording reawakening began with Gratitude (Origin Records, 2008), and picked up momentum on Straight Ahead (Origin Records, 2010). Both sets are excellent, showing up on many year-end top ten lists, but Reunion, with more fire in the belly and its oft-times "two gunslingers blazing away" atmosphere tops them.
The music begins with "Little Dex," penned by the set's pianist, Bill Anschell. When Caliman was learning his craft in Los Angeles, this was the nickname for his ability to play like the legendary Dexter Gordon. The tune is a full-force battle of the saxophones, a vehicle for Caliman and Christlieb's contrasting styles: Caliman telling his stories in an obliquely eloquent fashion; Christlieb full of roaring, right-in-your-face savage fury.
The set explores Great American Songbook standards, including: Mercer and Van Heusen's "I Thought About You," a smoky room piece of beautiful balladry; and Cole Porter's enduring "Love for Sale," sounding hot and saucy. Caliman contributes the upbeat yet wistful "Comencio," and "Gala," a hot cooker. Christlieb's delivers the rollicking "Nasty Green," and pensive "Dream On."
Reunion is reminiscent of a straight-through, superb Sonny Rollins album, with a tune or two that gets in the head and won't let go: "Little Dex" being one; and "Wide Stance," also written by Anschell, the other. The band roars out of the stall on "Wide Stance," full of implacable power, the rhythm section of Anschell, bassist Chuck Deardorf and drummer John Bishop locking into a powerhouse groove that rings with a bone-shaking, tile walls resonance as the saxophonists go for broke.
A couple of killer sax men and an inspired rhythm teamthe mainstream doesn't get any better than this.
Track Listing
Little Dex; Up Jumped Spring; Comencio; Gala; I Thought About You; Nasty Green; Wide Stance; Dream On; Love For Sale.
Personnel
Hadley Caliman
saxophonePete Christlieb
saxophoneBill Anschell
pianoChuck Deardorf
bassJohn Bishop
drumsAlbum information
Title: Reunion | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Origin Records