Woody Shaw - With Tone Jansa Quartet (1985) [2015 Timeless Jazz Master Collection] CD-Rip

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. One of our favorite Woody Shaw albums from his later years – and an album that's got the same joyous spirit and free soaring feel of his best 70s work! The core group on the album is the Tone Jansa Quartet – led by European reedman Jansa, and working in a space that's quite similar to that of Shaw's backing groups on previous sessions. Jansa wrote all the tunes on the set, and gave them a soaring feel that we really love – just the right mix of introspection and exploration found on classic Shaw sessions like Little Red's Fantasy or Lovedance. Titles include "Midi", "Boland", "Call Mobility", "River", and "May".
Shaw recorded a series of outstanding hard bop albums with American musicians but there is less available of him performing with Europeans. This album is, therefore, a welcome addition to his discography. Tone Jansa, a strong tenor saxophonist who also doubles on both soprano sax and flute, shares the front line with Shaw, and the two horns perform six compositions by Jansa backed by Jansa's swinging rhythm section. Shaw seems perfectly comfortable with the tunes, which range from sizzlers to ballads. Jansa and Shaw fit together well, and Shaw appears inspired by the interaction. Drummer Dragan Gajic kicks hard throughout while pianist Renato Chicco and bassist Peter Herbert play with strong feeling. The results are strikingly enjoyable, and all in all this should please admirers of the trumpeter.

Tracks:

01 - Midi
02 - Boland
03 - Call Mobility
04 - River
05 - Folk Song
06 - May

Personnel:

Woody Shaw - trumpet, flugelhorn
Tone Janša - tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
Renato Chicco - piano
Peter Herbert - bass
Dragan Gajić - drums