Musicians: Yaron Elyashiv (tenor sax), Andrei Ryabov (guitar), Ruslan Khain (bass), Phil Stewart (drums), Taeko Ota (vocal, track 8)
Review: It’s good to hear a rising, young, straight-ahead, tenor performer such as Yaron Elyashiv. His soloing and improvisational skills bring to mind legendary greats Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins. This is vividly apparent in Elyashiv’s recently released debut CD I Remember You.
Originally from Israel, now based in New York, Elyashiv has been out there playing small clubs, including Minton’s Playhouse. Here, in this session, he has gathered Andrei Ryabov on guitar, Ruslan Khain on bass and Phil Stewart on drums. The lineup of songs include six standards and five tuneful originals by Elyashiv.
The tunes give plenty of space for assertive solos by both Elyashiv and guitarist Ryabov with solid rhythm work by bassist Khain and dummer Stewart
Among stand-out tracks is “Elizabeth,” a paean for Elyashiv’s late mother. As can be imagined, on this he solos with particular sensitivity. The leader’s funky “Ghost Dance" is good fun, featuring Ryabov’s down-and-dirty guitar. In a fast-pace, take on oldie “Just in Time," the tenor and guitar unleash a flurry of notes, punctuated by the charging drums of Stewart.
With “On the Road Tonight," Elyashiv plays in trio context with the guitar laying out. In free-form, he shows in this that he can create music "out there" without a net.
Dexter Gordon’s “Cheese Cake” and “September in the Rain” left this listener wanting more. On the former, the tenor really takes charge, helped by clever fill-ins by drums. The number also displays the fluid tenor-guitar unison sound. On the latter, the group comes out swinging in Elyashiv’s very clever arrangement of the standard. His rocking solo on this and the final song, Bobby Troup’s “You’re Looking at Me,” certainly tips his horn to the influence of the legendary “saxophone collosus.”
Tracks: Two Moons, A Foggy Day, Elizabeth, Just in Time, Ghost Dancer, My Shining Hour, On the Road Tonight, I Couldn't Say I'm Sorry, Cheese Cake, September in the Rain, You're Looking at Me
JazzReview.com
