Tim Mayer: Resilience (2011)

Dan Bilawsky

Senior Contributor since 2010

Jazz fan, music educator and writer.

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Published: October 16, 2011

Resplendent arrangements and artful soloists are in abundance on Tim Mayer's Resilience. For this, the Boston-based tenor saxophonist's debut recording under his own name, Mayer manages to bridge the gap between the often opposing forces of stability and variety, as he builds each tune around the same core quartet while using an ever-changing list of guests as front line partners and featured soloists.

While the quartet functions as a stand-alone entity on a delicious ballad that seems to be built in the image of Ben Webster Ben Webster
1909 - 1973
sax, tenor ("I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry"), the ranks swell to varying degrees on every other performance. At its biggest, the group becomes a tentet for Sara Jacovino Sara Jacovino
b.1983
trombone 's woodwind-enhanced arrangement of trumpeter Charles Tolliver Charles Tolliver
b.1942
trumpet 's "Emperor March," but the majority of the music is fashioned around different quintet and sextet lineups.

Trombonist Michael Dease Michael Dease
b.1982
trombone is a frequent contributor who appears on seven tracks, and brings his fast-and-fluid chops to the foreground on his bop-influenced "For Miles," fellow trombone ace Steve Turre Steve Turre
b.1948
trombone 's "Fire And Ice," and a winning take of Bud Powell Bud Powell
1924 - 1966
piano 's "Dance Of The Infidels." Guitarist Mark Whitfield Mark Whitfield
b.1966
guitar proves to be a marvelous match for Mayer on the saxophonist's lively "Who Knew?" and Thelonious Monk Thelonious Monk
1917 - 1982
piano 's "Work," and a talented triumvirate of trumpeters take turns tearing it up as they stand side-by-side with Mayer. Dominick Farinacci Dominick Farinacci

trumpet is featured on the snappy "Klimo," Claudio Roditi Claudio Roditi
b.1946
trumpet joins in on a waltzing "Blue Lace," and Greg Gisbert Greg Gisbert
blends well within the aforementioned tentet, but comes on strong with bold and bright soloing during Kenny Dorham Kenny Dorham
1924 - 1972
trumpet 's rarely covered "Escapade."

Mayer often fashions his frontline in the manner of Art Blakey Art Blakey
1919 - 1990
drums 's Jazz Messengers which, with half of the pieces on the album having been written by former Messengers or Blakey associates, is clearly intentional; but this band is no knock-off. Thankfully, Mayer prefers allusion to direct imitation, which helps to make Resilience a resounding success.

Track Listing: For Miles; Escapade; Emperor March; I Guess I'll Hand My Tears Out To Dry; Fire & Ice; Dance Of The Infidels; Who Knew?; Blue Lace; Work; Klimo.

Personnel: Tim Mayer: tenor saxophone; George Cables: piano; Dezron Douglas: bass; Will Jones III: drums; Claudio Roditi: rotary trumpet (8); Greg Gisbert: trumpet (2, 3); Dominick Farinacci: trumpet (10); Michael Dease: alto trombone, tenor trombone (1-3, 5, 6, 8, 10); Robert Edwards: bass trombone (7, 9); Mark Whitfield: guitar (7, 9); Don Braden: flute (3); Robert Foster: alto flute (3); Michael Thomas: clarinet (3).

Record Label: Jazz Legacy Productions