Brent Jensen with The Acoustic Jazz Quartet

The Sound of A Dry Martini

Origin 82396

Purchase

iTunes - $9.90


If this is the sound of a dry martini, then make mine a double. Highly recommended.
Michael Bettine / JazzReview.com

Idaho-based Saxophonist Brent Jensen teams with members of Los Angeles' Acoustic Jazz Quartet in a collection of 10 tunes closely associated with the ever-lyrical and inventive alto saxophonist Paul Desmond. Says jazz writer Doug Ramsey in his liner notes, "He knows what Desmond was made of. In this homage, Jensen succeeds, uncannily, in marshaling many of Desmond's essential qualities." A student of Lee Konitz, Jensen, "...a saxophonist of impressive range, comfortable in idioms from mainstream to free," early on discovered his affinity for the under-appreciated melodicism and singing quality of Desmond's alto voice. "If Brent Jensen's tribute calls attention to Desmond's importance as one of the great individualists among jazz soloists, it is good for Brent, good for listeners and good for music. And it could do wonders for the dry martini industry."


Track Listing:

1 Wendy 6:58
2 Tangerine 5:13
3 Black Orpheus 5:16
4 Things Ain't What They Used To Be 6:40
5 Take Five 5:06
6 Audrey 3:15
7 Line for Lyons 4:19
8 Body & Soul 8:02
9 Out of Nowhere 4:39
10 Alice in Wonderland 4:18

Performers:

BRENT JENSEN - alto sax

The Acoustic Jazz Quartet:

JAMIE FINDLAY - guitar
ZAC MATTHEWS - bass
DEAN KOBA - drums

Production Info:

Produced by Brent Jensen and Jim DeBlasio
Recorded Live, direct to digital tape by Andy Waterman
at The Bakery, North Hollywood, CA, March, 29 & 30, 2001
Mixed & Mastered by Andy Waterman
Photos by Jim DeBlasio
Cover layout & design by John Bishop


Reviews of The Sound of A Dry Martini

KUSD, Vermillion, SD (Jim Clark)
I'm also extremely impressed by a new Paul Desmond tribute album from alto sax man Brent Jensen---"THE SOUND OF A DRY MARTINI-REMEMBERING PAUL DESMOND" on Origin Records out of Seattle. Jensen is a musician from this neck of the woods. He's a native of Idaho...graduated with a degree in music from Boise State University and a master's in music from ...

JazzReview.com (Michael Bettine)
Review: The title of this CD paraphrases what the late saxophonist Paul Desmond said he wanted to sound like. Idaho based Brent Jensen creates not so much a tribute album (which seem to be in vogue these days) as he does an album that captures the same essence that Desmond had. Neither a hip bopper, nor a cool West Coaster, Desmond often seems ...

CD Review.com (Michael Bettine)
Review: The title of this CD paraphrases what the late saxophonist Paul Desmond said he wanted to sound like. Idaho based Brent Jensen creates not so much a tribute album (which seem to be in vogue these days) as he does an album that captures the same essence that Desmond had. Neither a hip bopper, nor a cool West Coaster, Desmond often seems ...

All Music Guide (Dave Nathan)
Educator, clinician, and A-one alto sax player, Brent Jensen honors one of the most self-effacing musicians in the history of jazz, Paul Desmond. The title comes from Desmond's ambition to "sound like a dry martini," probably very light on the vermouth. There are many "Desmond-isms" that he liked to use to describe his work. On the secret to his un ...

midwest record (Chris Spector)
Sax man Jensen does more than make a tribute to Paul Desmond, he gets inside the music that was inside Desmond's head and connects it all for the listener once again without this being an homage that doesn't break any new ground. Walking the fine line between tribute and exploration, he let's the music speak for itself with the quiet fire that was ...



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