Alvin "Red" Tyler - Heritage (1986/2019)

Those who only know Alvin "Red" Tyler for his creative inserts and short, pithy sax statements on numerous New Orleans R&B hits in the 1950s may be surprised to find that Tyler is also a fine jazz player. His tone, ideas, harmonic and melodic facility, and general command and execution of chord changes are exceptional throughout this eight-song date; only the song quality is occasionally below par. Tyler doesn't flinch from the challenge of "Lush Life," emerging with a credible version, aided by Germaine Bazzle's shimmering vocal. The same is true on "Over the Rainbow." Even less-than-great numbers like "No Relation" and "Confusement" didn't boast substandard playing; they were hampered by generic arrangements.