Steve Slagle: Evensong (2013)

Dan Bilawsky

Senior Contributor since 2010

Jazz fan, music educator and writer.

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Published: February 23, 2013

Saxophonist Steve Slagle is a consummate leader often pegged as a sideman; with a résumé that includes stints with big band legends like Woody Herman Woody Herman
1913 - 1987
band/orchestra and Lionel Hampton Lionel Hampton
1908 - 2002
vibraphone , left-of-center trailblazers like pianist Carla Bley Carla Bley
b.1938
piano , Latin giants like Ray Barretto Ray Barretto
1929 - 2006
congas and modern day marvels like tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano Joe Lovano
b.1952
saxophone , it's easy to see why some people may look at him as a side dish, but outings under his own name mark him as main course material.

His outstanding '90s quartet dates—Reincarnation (Steeplechase, 1994) and Alto Blue (Steeplechase, 1997)—put him on the map as a notable leader on record, and he's been working the foursome format ever since, either under his own name or with guitarist Dave Stryker Dave Stryker
b.1957
guitar in the co-led Stryker Slagle Band Stryker Slagle Band

band/orchestra ; Evensong puts the saxophonist's name on top, but lives as a de facto Stryker/Slagle date, since both men contribute tunes and share the frontline. The presence of bassist Ed Howard Ed Howard

bass , who appears on their Live At The Jazz Standard (Zoho, 2005), furthers this notion. The new guy at the party, drummer McClenty Hunter McClenty Hunter
, fits in just fine with the other three previously connected parties, as he builds swing foundations, delivers firepower on "Shadowboxing" and sets up a slick groove behind Slagle's Eddie Harris Eddie Harris
1934 - 1994
saxophone -esque "Alive."

When viewed together, Slagle has often been tagged as the bop-to-beyond part of the team and Stryker the blues-and-soul side of the equation, but those labels don't do them justice; they certainly excel in those particular realms, but they both work far beyond those assigned borders. Slagle and Stryker share a near telepathic rapport and they've learned how best to complement one another in any setting over the years. Sometimes they simply sync up on a head and effortlessly fly through the song together, but that's not a given as, at other moments, Stryker comps along in supportive fashion while Slagle slyly sets things motion, or sits back and lets Stryker spread his wings.

Slagle dedicates a good number of these songs to friends and inspirations without aping those musicians' respective sounds and styles. The album opener name checks bassist Charles Mingus Charles Mingus
1922 - 1979
bass, acoustic and gives a nod to the late Dennis Irwin Dennis Irwin
1951 - 2008
bass , "Equal Nox" is connected to John Coltrane John Coltrane
1926 - 1967
saxophone , having been written on the saxophonist's birthday, the absorbing "Quiet Folks" gives due respect to guitarist Jim Hall Jim Hall
b.1930
guitar , and "The Star-Crossed Lovers" is an obvious, album-ending tribute to the song's composers—the great Duke Ellington Duke Ellington
1899 - 1974
piano and Billy Strayhorn Billy Strayhorn
1915 - 1967
piano .

Slagle's horn(s) may continue to serve as musical enhancement on other people's projects, but he's an artist who deserves attention as an out-front entity and each one of his albums continue to prove that point.

Track Listing: Mingus In Us; Blues Four; Supermoon; Quiet Folks; Shadowboxing; Alive; Equal Nox; B Like Me; The Star-Crossed Lovers.

Personnel: Steve Slagle: alto saxophone, soprano saxophone; Dave Stryker: guitar; Ed Howard: bass; McClenty Hunter: drums.

Record Label: Panorama Records
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream