David "Fathead" Newman—The Gift

(HighNote HCD 7104)

Saxophonist David Newman mixes things up on his latest, entitled The Gift. In addition to generously spreading the woodwind instrumentation beyond tenor sax to include two tracks on flute, one on soprano sax and another on alto sax, the performance set on The Gift also features four original compositions by Newman, as well as an original by the date's vibe player, Bryan Carrott. If you're looking for brooding tenor sax blues made popular by his Atlantic sides, then jump straight to "Lady Day" or the Mersey-beat standard "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying." Newman's backup quartet boasts a fine intermingling of John Hicks on piano and Carrott on vibes. Buster Williams and Winard Harper provide top-notch rhythmic reinforcement. So the band is A-1 and there are plenty of new tunes to challenge the listener. Another favorite track worth auditioning is his alto sax vehicle, the driving homage to Sonny Stitt called "Little Sonny's Tune." On the closer, "Ksue," a song Newman penned for his wife Sue, Fathead and the band end things on a positive, upbeat mood. Here's another "can't miss" release to Newman's already impressive discography. It's truly The Gift worth giving.