Charles McPherson - The Journey (2015)

Alto saxophone legend Charles McPherson has few living peers, but even at the age of 75, he shows no signs of slowing down, a premise well documented with the release of The Journey, his latest recording on the Capri label.
Blistering post-bop remains McPherson's signature, but there is also a modernist streak that ripples through his improvising on this disc that can only be heard in terms of things that tingle the spine. On The Journey he hooks up with a crack unit of Colorado-based players including tenor saxophonist Keith Oxman, pianist Chip Stephens, bassist Ken Walker, and drummer Todd Reid in a program that draws upon originals and standard material, with Bird's "Au Privave," rounding out the set.
Stephens' strutting riff-blues "The Decathexis From Youth," opens the disc with McPherson attacking the form with serpentine glee, squirming around the stop-time sections with acerbic velocity, followed by the composer's Pentecostal jabs and swinging block-chords over the thick, woody bass tones of Walker.
McPherson jumps on "Spring Is Here," with a squealing Dolphy-esque exuberance, but plies his own "Manhattan Nocturne," with the patient delivery of a master storyteller, compete with swinging, bluesy details, and yielding to Walker for a short, potent solo.
He then teams with Stephens for a lush, romance-laden duo reading of "I Should Care," full of grainy, sensual filigree, and the whole band pushes the title track into a higher dimension with Oxman and Stephens each laying down compelling statements before the leader, bringing up the rear, uncoils like a viper dropped on a bed of hot coals.
Much has been written about McPherson's debt to Charlie Parker or his 12 years of duty in the Charles Mingus group, but it is a mistake to assume that he ever stopped developing as a player, indeed, the music on The Journey indicates that this master has much more to say, and it's all worthy of careful attention.

Personnel
Charles McPherson: alto saxophone; Keith Oxman: tenor saxophone; Chip Stephens: piano; Ken Walker: bass; Todd Reid: drums.

Tracklist:
1 01. Charles McPherson - The Decathexis from Youth (For Cole) (06:56)
1 02. Charles McPherson - Elena (06:49)
1 03. Charles McPherson - Spring Is Here (05:50)
1 04. Charles McPherson - Manhattan Nocturne (10:04)
1 05. Charles McPherson - Au Privave (04:22)
1 06. Charles McPherson - I Should Care (06:08)
1 07. Charles McPherson - The Journey (04:25)
1 08. Charles McPherson - Tami's Tune (06:19)
1 09. Charles McPherson - Bud Like (04:40)