Extracted from Tracce di jazz, and translated from the original Italian.
Continue the meritorious policy of the small but combative Capri Records label, whose headquarters, despite the Italian name, is far from the stacks of Campania: it is based in Bailey, Colorado, and the alto Charles McPherson, class ’39, constant presence in the groups of Mingus and a flood of recordings including the hit and discussed OST of the famous “Bird” Eastwood adds an ace surprisingly fit still dazzling to its stable.
“The Journey” is an album of classic print that comes twelve years after the last recording as a leader and is a work that we recommend unreservedly to all lovers dell’hardbop more observant; the system of labor refers straight to the golden age of Blue Note, with the speech of McPherson prominently, fluent and concrete of all time, sharp and poignant ballads in (“Elena” is a gem of lyricism), precise and dancing in the medium time (in “The Dacathexis from youth”, the theme that opens the disc, offering exquisite flashes parkeriani in a torrid atmosphere blues).
There are voltage drops within a disk that also contains one of the finest versions of traceable “I Should Care” (in duo piano-sax), and you’d think that with a rhythmic world to support our , instead of even excellent musicians involved in Denver, would touched the masterpiece.
But then who knows, after all it is fine, McPherson now has an aura all its own that allows him to enlighten and load at most also partners of this “The Journey,” which features the solid pianism Chip Stephens. Note on the tenor sax Keith Oxman, a solid sideman almost unknown in our country that integrates with the leader so in all natural and offers fine solos, a musician who somehow seems to work perfectly at ease and with excellent results, in the same shadow in which he acted for decades sax legendary leader, adorable “unsung hero” for excellence.