Lowe-down & Blue by Frank Lowe Quartet

11 Jun

Written by Glenn Astarita
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Eight days after this session, tenor sax great Frank Lowe was scheduled for lung surgery, noted here, within the liner notes. Hence, on Sept 19, 2003 the artist succumbed to the perils of cancer. Lowe will be sorely missed, as this outing serves as a glowing reminder of his unique sound, style, and distinct approach to modern jazz. Arguably, this may indeed rank as one of the saxophonist’s finest efforts. The producers also note, that Lowe seemingly transcended his adverse health issues from the onset of this undertaking. To that end, the quartet, featuring drummer Michael Carvin, ex-Ornette Coleman "Prime Time" guitarist Bern Nix and bassist Dominic Duval cover quite a bit of musical terrain here.

The program commences with the band’s staggered free-bop lines on saxophonist Dewey Redman’s piece simply titled, "Dewey’s Tune." As Lowe’s softly iterated tenor sax tonalities are counterbalanced with a slight rasp. Lowe and his laudable musical associates merely skirt the outside via signature style renderings of samba motifs, blithely articulated, mid-tempo swing grooves and more. Where, Nix’ dark, electric guitar tome meshes well with Lowe’s buoyant, and at times, intense soloing spots.

Lowe’s throaty whispers provides a bit of counterpoint to Duval’s arco lines on "Waiting in Sorrow," where the twosome engages in a quiet conversation amid a subtle flow. The artists stir it up in heated fashion on trumpeter Don Cherry’s piece "Cherryoo," as their uninhibited drive and determination signifies a few starkly recognizable components of this superb effort. No doubt, Frank Lowe’s passing will denote a significant void within the global jazz community.