Rod Tate - Tatejazz
Rod Tate is one of those independent artists which are producing their
own albums. His self-released albums are "A Taste of
Eternity" (1994), "True Love Never Fails" (1995),
"With You" (2001), "Let's Talk", "The Secret
Place" and now "Tatejazz". He has also recorded three
CD's with his band Rod Tate & Full Circle: "Live at
Divinity", "Love & Family", and recently a live CD
simply entitled," Live". He also is co-founder of the duo
Two Smooth with Guitarist Gregg Haynes, with one CD to their credit,
"Too Smooth Vol. 1". Besides these albums he also performed
as an opening act for such celebrities as Spyro Gyra, Temptations,
Lonnie Liston Smith or Chuck Loeb.
Rod is a self-made
man. All songs on this album are written by Rod except "Over The
Rainbow" (Harold Arlen & E.Y. Harburg) and "Blue in
Green" (Miles Davis). He plays all instruments (Tenor, Alto &
Soprano Saxophones, Keyboards, Drum Programming). He made all
arrangements. Nevertheless the album sounds perfectly.
On start is Oh
Yeah! This tune
is the first demonstration for Rod's skills as a sax player. On a warm
sound tapestry layered down on keyboards Rod plays the melody always
using it as starting point for various improvisations.
If you ever was on
a Smooth Cruise,
you know that Rod's musical description hits the point. Rod's leading
instrument is the soprano sax, Sometimes the instrument gets some
oriental flavor.
On
I Hear Ya
Rod not only plays sax as leading instrument but also some additional
horns. Anew Rod shows his affinity for long improvisations.
A slow seductive
approach is The
Essence Of You.
Rod 's soprano sax is humming like a lovesick cat. A song for lovers
at midnight.
Bass is
introducing Flowin'.
Garnished with keyboards chords Rod plays some sax improvisations
with a short organ break.
Deeper into smooth
jazz with Sweet Thang.
Rod likes the arrangement: soprano sax as lead instrument added with
keyboards chords.
Slow tracks like The
Watchman are
"intended to soothe you soul and speak love to your spirit"
as Rod uses to say. Although his sax play is vivid I miss some
variations in his keyboard play.
A Taste Of
Eternity was previous released as the title song of the album "A Taste of
Eternity" (1994). A slow dark tuned waltz with a big soprano sax
solo.
Rod takes it
serious: Let's
Roll! is an
energetic uptempo tune with a great horn arrangement. Rod blows like a
devil.
Work It Out!
has some disco feeling with its hand-clapping and the stomping rhythm.
Nevertheless his sax play is fairly in the jazz area.
Over The Rainbow
is a jazz classic. All Music Guide counts 1152 versions. Even Kenny G
has chosen this song as one of his "Classics in the Key of
G". While others sticks to the original song, Rod uses it as a
starting point for an excursion into jazzy improvisations.
Another cover is Blue
in Green, a piece
Miles Davis originally recorded on his album "Kind Of Blue"
(1959), a milestone of jazz. Relaxed straight ahead jazz.
T8Jazz@Sax.com
is the final tune, which is certainly another piece for classic jazz
fans.
My résumé about
this album: only an independent artist can record that music he likes
to play. Rod has fulfilled his dream: "An album for
sax-fans".
