Nowadays, what's the point of chronicling this "Remasters" when the group released "Mothership" in 2007, which makes it obsolete? Because this record is historic. It is the first to be officially released under the LED ZEPPELIN name since "Coda" in 1982. The 1985 reformations for Live Aid and the 1988 reformation for the 40th anniversary, with Jason Bonham behind the sons, son of the late John n ' will have been occasional and here, there is no place for a fanfare of the Airship. Jimmy Page just wanted to deliver a compilation worthy of the name years after the band's smashing debut, years after a half-hearted ending. How many of you have known LED ZEPPELIN with this "Remasters"? How many of you have had a breath of nostalgia when you saw this cover?
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…
Drawing on over 30 years of experience playing the country-blues, complete with tutorials from some of the undisputed masters, it comes as no surprise that Stefan Grossman can so consistently conjure up the authentic spirit of the music with each successive release. His original compositions show Grossman to be the most confident of guitarists in his genre, effortlessly borrowing from the stylings of Mississippi John Hurt, Reverend Gary Davis, and Blind Willie McTell among various others. While his playing isn't overly flashy, it need not be. The precision and craftsmanship injected into the fluid, rolling original "Yazoo Strut," the harder blues groove of "Spider Web Blues," and a powerful rendition of Reverend Gary Davis' "Candy Man" are country blues at its very best.
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…