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| Todd Herbert - The Path to Infinity Metropolitan Records CD Release Celebration at the Iridium Linda Presgrave Quartet 8PM & Todd Herbert Quartet 10PM Posted: 2007-07-11 July 12 Metropolitan Records CD Release Celebration 8:O0PM - The Linda Presgrave Quartet Linda Presgrave - piano, Wei-Sheng Lin - bass, Seiji Ochiai - drums, Stan Chovnick - soprano sax 10:00PM - The Todd Herbert Quartet Todd Herbert - tenor sax, Jeremy Manasia - piano, Joel Forbes - bass, Jason Brown - drums At The IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) Todd Herbert - The Path to Infinity (Metropolitan Records). Todd Herbert-tenor sax, George Colligan-piano, Dwayne Burno-bass, Darrin Becket-drums David Hazeltine-piano, Jphn Weber-bass, Joe Farnsworth- drums (track 5) Street Date: July 3, 2007 This record raises several important points. One: it's extremely good of its kind. Two: though the leader isn't a “name”, every member (with the exception of drummer Becket) of the two supporting sections has graced umpteen classic current recordings and most have had their own dates as leaders. Three: as six of the seven tracks were recorded exactly eight years ago with thoroughly professional sound, why must it have been turned down by every possible outlet and has only now obtained a release because Freddie Hubbard (with whose Quintet Herbert played for a year, following a lengthy association with Charles Earland) made a personal phone call to a New York company called Metropolitan, whose boss, Stan Chovnick has put himself down as producer? That, sad to say, is how hard the jazz record business is today. The music is strongly rooted in Coltrane of the late '50s and very much in the “Giant Steps” vein. Herbert is a terrific tenor player, who obviously idolises Trane and he couldn't wish for a harder- swinging rhythm section with Colligan, inspiring as composer and soloist, Burno as solid as a rock beneath him and Becket churning up the beat behind them all. Most of the tunes have familiar changes with modern reappraisals, but are all thoroughly enjoyable. The remaining title (Sonny Rollins' stuttering blues line, “Decision”) featuring Hazeltine, Webber and Farnsworth, again all in top form, was taped at Small's by legendary club owner Mitchell Borden. The CD is far superior to so many on the market. It's our good fortune that Freddie made the call. Try to hear it. -- Tony Hall-Jazzwise Magazine Todd Herbert, hailing from the vibrant community of Evanston, Illinois (Just North of Chicago), began his musical life at the age of 10 with the clarinet but eventually found his way to his instrument of choice-the tenor saxophone. His advanced studies in music came at the University of Miami which is considered by many to be one of the country's foremost training grounds for jazz musicians. Todd has been playing professionally for over 15 years and had his first break with the Charles Earland Quartet. Todd also toured with trumpet virtuoso Freddie Hubbard's quintet for over two years. In 1997, Todd moved permanently to New York where he maintains a busy schedule of composing and performing. In addition to leading his own group, he has played with such greats as Jimmy Cobb and Tom Harrell. The inception for the project and the CD entitled “The Path to Infinity” came about when trumpet icon Freddie Hubbard called Stan Chovnick, president of Metropolitan records, in August 2006 and said that he would like for Stan to hear a recent recording Todd made. After hearing the recording Stan agreed with Freddie Hubbard that Todd is an excellent player who also writes intense compositions and he definitely deserves to be heard ! As a result of the above mentioned, Metropolitan Records is proud to release Todd Herbert's first CD entitled “ The Path to Infinity”. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |