A Monk & A Mingus Among Us

• Artist: Donald Walden
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1998
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Detroit tenor saxophonist Donald Walden's second CD is truly a winning program, a collection of three Thelonious Monk and three Charles Mingus standards, two of Walden's originals, and one of Geri Allen's most potent compositions. Bassist Rodney Whitaker contributes a hundredfold, drummer Karriem Riggins stokes the fires energetically, and pianist Gary Schunk is completely masterful throughout. Pianist William Evans and bassist Marion Hayden guest on three tracks, pianist Kenn Cox, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, and drummer Gerald Cleaver cameo on one. Walden's saxophone sound is informed by the Rollins-Coltrane-Charlie Rouse school, but does not cop their sonorities. His technique is lighter, lyrical, full-toned but not brash or obvious. Of the Mingus pieces, "Cell Block F" is the most buoyant and kinetic and "The I of Hurricane Sue" an easy swinger loaded with Whitaker's fluent, fluid basslines and solo, while "Peggy's Blue Skylight" has the Belgrave-Cox-Cleaver tandem doing great justice as Belgrave, a former Mingus Jazz Workshop member, knows all too well. These are great interpretations that do Charles proud. The Monk tunes "Ruby My Dear," "Introspection," and "Bye-Ya" are all pretty straightly read, Schunk's witticism and deft touch accenting rather than shadowing Monk, while the Evans-Haden-no drummer combo on "Ruby" sets a more romantic mode for Walden's lilting melodic theme. "Signed: Dizzy, with Love" has a calm beat that belies Gillespie's wilder persona, while the powerhouse modern modal "Mr. Styx" has a hip, higher-toned tenor pursued by Schunk's fleet piano. Allen's "M.O.P.E." is the bomb, a killin' modern modal figure with Whitaker's bass accents that sound organ-like and Schunk's piano utterly flying on his solo, his deep chordal comping anchoring Walden's piquant head and tail -- this is truly a tour de force definitive jazz tune for the times. As much as unrealized potential is served notice on this recording, the fact is that Walden has been stockpiling for years. Infrequent trips to the recording studio don't do the man fair justice, and it would behoove listeners to get wise to what decades of listening, performing, and teaching have brought in a most unique individual and solid jazzman. Recommended, especially for the unenlightened. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi

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