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CD/LP/Track Review
David Sanborn: Only Everything (2010)
Joel Roberts
Joel Roberts has been contirbuting to AAJ since its earliest days.
Only Everything is alto saxophonist David Sanborn's second straight release paying homage to one of his greatest and earliest influences, Ray Charles
Ray Charles
1930 - 2004
piano
. While some jazz purists may dismiss Sanborn as a slick TV personality and practitioner of smooth or pop jazz, he's always had firm roots in bluesy, R&B-based jazz, dating to his early days playing with the likes of Albert King
Albert King
1923 - 1992
guitar, electric
and the Paul Butterfield
Paul Butterfield
1942 - 1987
harmonica
Blues Band. And along with his more commercially calculated recordings, he's released some excellent straight-ahead, even experimental albums over the years, notably 1991's out-of-left-field Another Hand (Elektra), which featured Sanborn in the company of Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
b.1937
bass, acoustic
, Marc Ribot
Marc Ribot
b.1954
guitar
and Bill Frisell
Bill Frisell
b.1951
guitar
, among others.
On Only Everything, Sanborn is joined by a tight, small group featuring the hard-grooving organist Joey DeFrancesco
Joey DeFrancesco
b.1971
organ, Hammond B3
and the well-traveled drum dynamo Steve Gadd
Steve Gadd
b.1945
drums
. The addition of a four-member horn section—Bob Malach
Bob Malach
(tenor), Frank Basile
Frank Basile
b.1978
sax, baritone
(baritone), Tony Kadlock (trumpet) and Mike Davis (bass trombone)—on about half the tracks gives the album a 'little big band' vibe that evokes Charles' 1961 Atlantic classic Genius + Soul = Jazz.
Like its predecessor, 2008's well-received Here and Gone (Verve), Only Everything highlights the contributions of Charles' star saxophonists Hank Crawford
Hank Crawford
1934 - 2009
sax, alto
and David "Fathead" Newman
David "Fathead" Newman
1933 - 2009
sax, tenor
, both of whom passed away last year within days of each other. Sanborn pays tribute to his fellow saxmen here with a rousing take on Crawford's "The Peeper" and a moving treatment of Newman's signature tune, "Hard Times." Throughout, Sanborn's earthy, slightly tart alto and DeFrancesco's booming, soulful organ make a compelling pairing, with the often subdued Sanborn playing with unexpected fire and the flashy DeFrancesco showing some welcome restraint.
The album's two vocal guests have mixed results. Young pop-soul star Joss Stone has great chops, but tries too hard on "Let the Good Times Roll" while the always relaxed James Taylor fares better on a cool, low-key reading of "Hallelujah, I Love Her So."
Track Listing: The Peeper; Only Everything (For Genevieve); Hard Times;Let The Good Times Roll; Baby Won't You Please Come Home; You've Changed; Hallelujah I Love Her So; Blues In The Night.
Personnel: David Sanborn: alto sax; Joey DeFrancesco: organ; Steve Gadd: drums; Bob Malach: tenor sax; Frank Basile: baritone sax; Tony Kadlock: trumpet; Mike Davis: bass trombone; Joss Stone: vocals; James Taylor: vocals.
Record Label: Decca Music Group
Style: R&B/Soul
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