In this final recording with pianist Michel Petrucciani, saxophonist Grossman's usually more extroverted tendencies are willingly sublimated in order to play more romantically inclined mainstream jazz. Many of the tunes are ballads, embellished by Petrucciani's languid or forceful pianistics, while solid bassist Andy McKee and drummer Joe Farnsworth keep the flickering flame alive with their steadying rhythms.
Of course the fire has to be stoked on occasion, and Grossman really digs in on the Sonny Rollins evergreen "Why Don't I?" It's perfectly played, a flawless uptempo swinger with head nodding, bluesy elements. Contrasting easy swing with double timed tenor on "Don't Blame Me" shows Grossman as riled up as he gets on this date…
Phenomenal saxophonist Steve Grossman, who replaced Wayne Shorter in the Miles Davis band and had great albums throughout the 1970s and the 1980s, has been living in Italy for the past 20 years, and his last recording was made in 2000 in Italy with Johnny Griffin. This CD represents his first recording in over 10 years. Appropriately named Homecoming, this album was recorded in October 2010 in New York, when Grossman came back to the Big Apple for the first time in more than 15 years for a four-day engagement at Jazz Standard. Supporting Grossman on this date were pianist Larry Willis, drummer Joe Farnsworth and John Webber who played with him at Jazz Standard, plus several other musicians including trumpeter Tom Browne…
In the early 90s, after experiencing numerous artistic and commercial success, especially with Jean Michel Jarre and Christopher Francis Dreyfus embarks on the adventure of jazz. To win from the start in this universe in which we did not necessarily expected, Francis Dreyfus sign big names: Steve Grossman, Marcus Miller, Roy Haynes, but also Richard Galliano, Biréli Lagrène, Michel Petrucciani and Eddy Louiss. 20 years later, Dreyfus Jazz has become a prestigious and must label.
To celebrate its 20 years, Dreyfus Jazz publishes luxurious. box of 20 CDs.