V/A: PRESTIGE LEGACY
Vol 2, Battles of the Saxes (Prestige)
Reviewed by Ron Saranich

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Released last year by Prestige, The Battle Of The Saxes is a compilation of eleven songs from various Prestige records featuring eighteen tenor saxophonists, eight altoists, and one baritone player. For lovers of good, passionate sax, the cd makes for a good listen. Even for die hard jazz fans, since eleven different albums are highlighted in the compilation, there is much to captivate one's attention and point the way towards future exploration and purchase.

There are too many great jazzmen playing on the tracks to name all the sidemen, but a list of the saxophonists should whet one's appetite. How about Stan Getz, Zoot Zims, Al Cohn, Allen Eager, Brew Moore, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Wardell Gray, Sonny Criss, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Phil Woods, Gene Quill, Hal Stein, Sahib Shihab, Jackie McLean, John Jenkins, Paul Quinichette, Pepper Adams, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Coleman Hawkins, Arnett Cobb, Buddy Tate, Oliver Nelson, Eric Dolphy, Johnny Griffin, and Booker Ervin.

Over the years, Prestige Records was the sight of many memorable "blowing sessions". These relaxed and loosely organized events produced exciting music that sounds as fresh today as it did forty to fifty years ago. Though there's much here for jazz listeners of all levels, the novice seeking to understand the spontaneous excitement of the jazz idiom should find this cd a great place to start their educational process.

Track Listing:
Battle Of The Saxes, You Can Depend On Me, Scrapple From The Apple, Tenor Madness, Kinda Kanonic, Windy City, Groove Blues, Lester Leaps In, Alto-itis, Dee Dee's Dance, Sonny's Book.

© 2001 - Ron Saranich