Tenor saxophone giant Houston Person recorded his first album as a leader, Underground Soul, at Rudy Van Gelder's legendary Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey studio. Over the years, their personal and professional relationship was a delight to all who cued up a Person recording from there. But don't mistake this as a look-back memorial. Always looking and playing forward, his renditions of tunes by Cole Porter, Henry Mancini, Cedar Walton, Rodgers & Hart and Percy Mayfield always feel fresh in Houston's hands. With guitarist Russell Malone, pianist Larry Fuller, bassist Matthew Parrish and drummer Lewis Nash, Houston Person with this new recording—yes, recorded at Van Gelder's studio—keeps it fresh with a finesse most keep shedding for.
From Monday, Dec. 19 through Friday, Dec. 23, one cut from Person’s Reminiscing At Rudy’s album will be featured each morning on the New Day, New Play spotlight on my Daybreak show.
Listen to “Please Send Me Someone to Love” from Reminiscing At Rudy’s, above.
