Troy Roberts & Tim Jago - Best Buddies

Troy Roberts & Tim Jago - Best Buddies - Toy Robot Music

This writer was impressed at the end of 2019 by Troy Roberts' album "Days Like These." Saxophonist Roberts was, at the time, a member of Joey DeFrancesco's group, and before that, he was a member of the Jeff' Tain' Watts Quartet. In that review, I observed that "With superlative backing, Roberts shows he can play tough and tenor with a big sound in the manner of Gene Ammons, Stanley Turrentine … and Houston Person." On this recording, he shares the limelight with guitarist Tim Jago who, as the album title states, is a close friend of Roberts. The two were born and raised in Australia, and both initially re-located to the US to undertake graduate studies at The University of Miami Frost School of Music. 

The present album was recorded in Australia with fellow Australians Karl Florisson on acoustic bass and Ben Vanderwal on drums. The recording took place because of the fortuitous circumstance of all of them being in the same place in July 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdown. It captures four similar attuned musicians putting together some marvelous performances. The album is in a post-bop style, with the theme being the performance of contrafacts (a new melody composed over the existing harmonic structure of various well-known jazz standards).

Like Roberts' prior recording, this is a hard-swinging recording that opens with a take-off on "I Got Rhythm," "Chythm Ranges." Both play with authority on this barn burner performance, and Jago's horn-like single note runs complement Roberts, robust, fiery lines. The title track is an appealing number inspired by Benny Golson's "Stablemates." It is played at a lazy tempo, with Roberts further showcasing his big sound, set against Jago's comping.

The quartet explores "A New Porpoise," a contrafact of "Green Dolphin Street. Bassist Florisson lays down the foundation for this track with Jago displaying his technical facility and invention in his solo. "Pho Twenny" is derived from "I'll Remember April" and a showcase for Roberts' exquisite ballad playing. Based on "My Heart Belongs To Daddy," "King of Hearts" is a jazz waltz with a Coltrane-esque feel with its groove with Vanderwal's channeling Elvin Jones. There is a fugue-like quality in the interplay between Roberts and Jago throughout "Halfway House In C Major," which is derived from Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love." 

A heated "Overlook," a contrafact of "My Shining Hour," closes this album. Roberts develops a thematic improvisation over the rhythm section's blistering tempo, followed by concise solos from Jago, Florisson, and Vanderwal. It is another first-rate performance. The other tracks are of a similarly high standard. With inspired compositions and superb playing, "Best Buddies" is simply an outstanding recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a video for "Best Buddies."

Troy Roberts Days Like These

Troy Roberts
Days Like These
Toy Robot Music

Tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts new recording has him playing with two masters with whom he played and recorded with. Roberts currently is a member of organist Joey DeFrancesco's group and appears on some of the organist's recent recordings. Before that he was a member of Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts Quartet for five years, appearing on three of Watts albums. Watts has appeared on two of Roberts' prior recordings. DeFrancesco plays on the first three of the eight songs here. Emmet Cohen plays organ on the remaining five tracks. Cohen and Roberts were in an organ trio together when Cohen was a student at the University of Miami’s Frost School Of Music and Roberts was on the faculty.

This is a wonderful collection of organ trio recordings starting with "“My Girl is Just Enough Woman For Me." With superlative backing, Roberts shows he can play tough and tenor with a big sound in the manner of Gene Ammons, Stanley Turrentine (who recorded this song several times) and Houston Person. This is a swinging number that also showcases their brilliance of DeFrancesco and Watts, both of whom solo. DeFrancesco sets the tone opening the torch song, "Why Was I Born," with Roberts displaying his exquisite ballad playing. Roberts' original "Trams" has appeared on a Grammy Nominated album by Orrin Evans & The Captain Black Big Band of which Roberts is a member. It is an intriguing composition with engaging, driving interplay among the trio, not to mention the unexpected twists and turns in the solos.

Another original, "The Waltz of Parting Days” is constructed around a brooding melody, with Roberts again playing with warmth and clarity as Cohen and Watts complement Roberts playing. Roberts' “Sly Old Dog” is a contrafact of Cole Porter’s “It’s Alright With Me." This is a raucous uptempo burner with Roberts' blistering tenor sax (evoking Johnny Griffin), along with Cohen's spirited organ, and Watts driving percussion. After the relaxed, jaunty "Jack the Sipper," Roberts delights us with the Wayne, Hoffman and Sigler tune “Little Man You’ve Had a Busy Day.” This performance again illustrates the warmth he brings to a standard as his velvety playing caresses the melody of this standard.

An uptempo original, “Wizard of Ozroop" enthralls with a gripping performance by Roberts with unexpected and imaginative twists and turns. Troy Roberts is an excellent saxophonist with a big sound who constructs thoughtful, imaginative and passionate solos. He receives superb backing throughout and his session mates provide their own engrossing solos. With the first-rate renditions of rarely performed songs and Roberts originals, listeners need more "Days Like These."

I received a download for review from a publicist. This review appeared in the November-December 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 3387). Here is Troy Roberts performing "Trams."