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"Passin-Thru Records 'Master Artisan
Series' is a new cd label that documents community based musicians
who, by virtue of their abilities and contributions to the development
of jazz, deserve to be recorded and heard by a larger audience.
This is one such artist, who has a great quartet featuring Freddie
Washington Jr. on tenor saxophone, John Hicks on piano, Billy Hart
on drums, and Neil Kane on bass. The album was brilliantly produced
by Oliver Lake and Richard Franklin.Frederick
(Freddie) Washington Jr. of St. Louis, Mo., is the first artist
to be recorded in this series. He exemplifies the Passin-Thru definition
of the unheralded master artisan crucial to the continuous regeneration
of this music. For the past 35 years when touring musicians came
to St. Louis, a set or two with Freddie has been part of their itinerary.
These musical conversations were fertile ground for a cross-pollination
of vintage and contemporary ideas, helping spawn a cadre of superb
musicians like Oliver Lake and John Hicks. Arguably those musical
colloquies, and similar ones around the country, have nurtured a
spirit of openness and creative flexibility innate to jazz. The
result is a vital art form blessed with continual reinvention and
rejuvenation even while many of the communities of its birth have
stagnated and declined. Born in St. Louis in 1937, Freddie began
playing tenor saxophone in the eighth grade. By age 16 he was playing
professionally with Jimmy Houston's orchestra and the quartet of
Joe Charles, the legendary drummer.
Like many St. Louis jazz musicians,
he went on to play with George Hudson's Orchestra, one of the best
of the regional bands. Freddie lists Vincent Pitts and Bobby Danzie
as his jazz mentors. Both trumpet players generated exciting musical
activity wherever they could find a place to jam. Other early influences
included Charlie Parker' Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz Sony Rollins and,
of course, John Coltrane. Freddie's earliest inspiration on tenor
was Wilburt Hemsley. A name remembered locally for harmonic concepts
similar to Coltrane's. The group does a superb cover of McCoy Tyner's
"Contemplation". Washington easily makes himself comfortable
in the familiar standard. The music requires no gimmicks or add-ons
to justify our attention or hold our interest. Freddie has a keen
sense of dynamics and harmony which add new life to this classic
composition. "Autumn in New York" shows Freddie's confident
but sensitive lyrical touch, a great balance of technique and soulful
inspiration. Washington wrote two of the seven compositions on the
disc, "Lilac I" and "Sing Song". Both tunes show his
skill as an arranger and composer. Especially "Lilac I" where
the interplay between Hicks agile comping on the piano and Washington's
unique tenor styling create a perfect dialog. Another highlight
is John Coltrane's classic,"Crescent". Washington's solos
show a maturity and unique ability to translate Coltrane's feel
for the tune and give it new life without losing any of the spice
and excitement of the original. Heres to Mr. Washington's recording
debut and a fine quartet to express his vision. May they continue
to offer such high quality jazz. Highly recommended.
information: website: http://www.passinthru.org |
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