Jorge Nila Tenor Time: Tribute to the Tenor Masters

Jorge Nila
Tenor Time: Tribute to the Tenor Masters
Ninjazz

Saxophonist Jorge Nila began playing music in Omaha, Nebraska in 1965 and moved to New York in 1978, studying with George Coleman, and working with Eddie Palmieri, Jack McDuff, Paul Simon, and others. He returned to Omaha in 1990 where he is a music educator and performs in Colorado, Kansas City, and the Midwest. On this recording, he is accompanied by guitarist Dave Stryker (who was also playing in the Omaha scene in the 1970s), drummer Dana Murray (also a long time friend whose home studio is where this was recorded), and organist Mitch Towne (who also has worked with Nila, and become one of the strongest B-3 players in the Midwest). They provide the backing for Nila's homage to a number of tenor players he has listened to.

While Lester Young is not represented here, Nila writes that he is the apple tree that has led to the fruit of the tenor players he salutes here. It opens up with a nicely paced version of Dexter Gordon's "Fried Bananas." We get introduced to Nila's warm, fluid playing with Stryker bright single note playing and Towne's straight-ahead organ grease all played at a relaxed, swinging groove that Murray puts down before trading fours with Nila on an exemplary performance. The blues-drenched funk of Hank Mobley's "Soul Station" follows.

In honoring John Coltrane, Nila picked a Tadd Dameron composition, "On a Misty Night," and there is a strong tenor sax solo with his full tone and nicely developed solo, although he displays little Coltrane influence. It is followed by a beautiful rendition of Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes," with Towne adding an excellent solo. Stanley Turrentine is honored on a relaxed interpretation of Stevie Wonder's "Rocket Love," with Stryker adding a neat riff in his accompaniment. It contrasts with the strong drive of Joe Henderson's "Inner Urge." Sonny Rollins' "The Everywhere Calypso" allows for a bouncy, Caribbean flavor and a thoughtfully developed thematic solo that suggests Rollins' influence in how Nila solos. Stryker adds a solo here in the manner of Jim Hall with Rollins. Sonny Stitt's "The Eternal Triangle," takes us from bebop to hard bop with more thoughtful and inventive soloing.

Harold Vick's "Our Miss Brooks," is a relaxed, bluesy tenor-organ group shuffle with Towne outstanding followed by Nila playing in a more gutbucket manner followed by Stryker's energetic solo with the band then slowly building the intensity of this gem that closes an excellent recording. Nila has picked some interesting tunes to honor a number of tenor giants and with the superb band, shows himself to be a most formidable saxophonist.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the January-February 2018 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 382), although I have made minor changes. Here Jorge is heard with Richie Love performing "On Green Dolphin Street."