Rob Mazurek - Badlands (1995)

Rob Mazurek's second of three CDs for Hep is a solid hard bop affair, featuring the then-rising star Eric Alexander on tenor sax. The trumpeter covers a lot of familiar turf, beginning a tantalizing "Angel Eyes" in which he utilizes a Harmon mute and benefits from pianist Randy Tressler's imaginative approach to this standard. The rollicking, bluesy treatment of "Deep Purple" proves refreshing, though the dreamy take of "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" breaks no new ground. Alexander shines as a foil for Mazurek in bassist John Webber's driving "Nomad" and the leader's explosive "Badlands." By the late '90s, Mazurek had turned his interest away from hard bop, but this early effort has stood the test of time rather well.~Badlands Review by Ken Dryden