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Bootsie Barnes & Larry McKenna: The More I See You
ByBarnes and McKenna make it known from the outset that swinging is their mission and bop is their language of choice. The tenors are ably abetted in that endeavor by organist Lucas Brown and a longtime friend and neighbor from Philly, drummer Byron "Wookie" Landham. Besides working in tandem on seven of the album's nine numbers, each of the co-leaders has his own handsome ballad showcase: McKenna, "You've Changed"; Barnes, Kurt Weill's "My Ship." Barnes wrote the vigorous "Three Miles Out," McKenna the groove-laden finale, "Don't Redux the Reflux." Rounding out the engaging Philly-stamped bill of fare are Jimmy Heath's "For Minors Only," Hank Mobley's "The Breakthrough," Peter Nero's "Sunday in New York" and Henry Mancini's well-known theme from the television series "Mr. Lucky."
While the leaders speak virtually the same harmonic language, separating them in the mind's eye is rather easy, as Barnes has a moderately heavier sound and has been recorded slightly to the left of center, McKenna to the right. The intensity doesn't wane when Brown takes the driver's seat, as he proves to be a sharp and able soloist. As for Landham, he makes the most of his solo turns on "For Minors Only" and "The Breakthrough." Even so, it is Barnes and McKenna whose purpose is to warm the heart and brighten the landscape, and they never fail to please.
Track Listing
The More I See You; For Minor’s Only; Three Miles Out; Mr. Lucky; You Changed; Sunday In New York; The Break Through; My Ship; Don’t Redux The Reflux.
Personnel
Bootsie Barnes
saxophone, tenorLarry McKenna: tenor saxophone (Except Track 8); Bootsie Barnes: tenor saxophone (Except Track 5); Lucas Brown: Hammond B3 organ; Byron Landham: drums.
Album information
Title: The More I See You | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Cellar Live