First Milestone
An alumnus of recordings by organistsCharles EarlandandJimmy McGriffas well as guitaristPat Martino, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander brings a smooth, honey-toned sound to bear onThe First Milestone. Unlike most saxophonists, who usually bring other players to mind, Alexander recalls romantic vocalists such asJohnny HartmanorAndy Bey. His tone is big, smooth, and eminently listenable, and he's got chops to burn. He's a blues-based swinger with players likeColtrane,Willis Jackson, andIke Quebecin his lineage, and his own tunes push things further than you might expect. With excellent accompaniment by Martino, pianistHarold Mabern, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Joe Farnsworth, the recording is well balanced between aggressive originals, playful ballads, and fairly standard blowing vehicles. Alexander's own "Stand Pat" and "The First Milestone" draw bracing solos from all involved, as does Mabern's exciting time-twister, "The Phineas Trane." This band even turns oddball fare such asJohn Williams's "The Towering Inferno" into a swinging Latin cakewalk. Occasionally, lack of rehearsal or real gig time results in missed cues or a kind of business-as-usual feeling, but the killer solos and solid compositions make up for these minor mishaps.--Ken Micallef