Dave Tofani Leads New Quartet In Nights At The Inn

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There is nothing like a new outfit to help you look and feel great. Dave Tofani's new outfit, in the form of a talented new quartet, also helps him sound great. On his new album, Tofani is unquestionably at his best and most confident. The former Grammy nominee and distinguished sax man continues to highlight his own luminous work, but also provides equal time to his accompanists: Jesse Green on piano, Evan Gregor on bass, and longtime collaborator Ronnie Zito on drums. Together, the band creates beautiful, lyrical and substantive music full of passion and crisp performances.

Nights At The Inn is Tofani's fourth and most accomplished release on the SoloWinds imprint. Inspired by his quartets captivating gigs at the Deer Head Inn, the storied Pocono Mountains jazz destination, Dave and the group brought the same magic into the studio to capture that intimate club vibe. When you've got ace pedigree and a stellar, first-call reputation like Tofani, capturing that vibe's a piece of cake. A peek at Dave's website gives new fans to his work some indication of the width and breadth of his career. Quite simply, his artistry exemplifies modern tenor saxophone. Ever since making his way through Juilliard, Tofani's been one of NYC's most sought-after studio pros. He's accompanied such legendary artists as Quincy Jones, Natalie Cole, George Benson, Barbara Streisand, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Frank Sinatra, Herbie Hancock, Tony Bennett and Simon & Garfunkel. You have heard him on numerous Grammy-Award winning CDs including Steely Dan's Two Against Nature. He even played on the Double Fantasy sessions with John Lennon.

Dave's musical sensibilities and sensitivities are evident on every track of Nights At The Inn. Tofani peppers the album with a nice smattering of gorgeous sax, but allows his band mates ample room as well. Up and coming pianist Green, a regular at the Deer Head Inn, proves his mettle on the delicate "I Hear a Rhapsody" and the trotting rendition of Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love." The set list also features three of Tofani's own delightful compositions: the zesty, up-tempo "You Caught Me, " the Mediterranean flair of "Trip To Madrid, " and the percussive "Brushes On The Snare" which features the work of–yes, you guessed it–drummer Zito. Tofani's original tunes gel well with the standards he has chosen, which include a playful take on Duke's "Angelica" and a sensitive turn on Thad Jones' "A Child Is Born, " which features Tofani's masterful tenor. "Violets For Your Furs, " a heartwarming tune popularized, of course, by none other than Ol' Blue Eyes himself. It's a tasteful cap to a delightful listen.

Throughout the album, Tofani pays special attention to pacing. The variety of tempos from track to track makes for a satisfying ride through the band leader's capabilities, which, on Nights At The Inn, are vast and wonderful.

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