Chateauguay Tenors Live! 'Stars Fell on Alabama'

'Stars Fell on Alabama', Comp. Frank Perkins


Cameron Wallis - Alto Saxophone
Al McLean - C Melody Saxophone
Geoff Lapp - Piano
Morgan Moore - Bass
Richard Irwin Drums

Recorded at Bar du Diable à 4, Point St. Charles Quebec, January 23, 2010

In this gorgeous ballad, Cameron Wallis leads the band through a compelling rendition of 'Stars Fell On Alabama'. Wallis' growling, soulful tone on the alto sax evocative of swing era greats like Johnny Hodges, and Benny Carter, but of course is up to date in the modern Jazz lexicon. Laid back, sensitive and thoroughly entertaining, Wallis flexes his creative muscles here, delivering a tune that is both surprisingly fresh, but still lushly connected to the past.

This is the first part of a two song Medley, the second half, Strayhorn's 'Isfahan', featuring McLean on C melody (please click through).

About the concert...

If you were lucky to find yourself at this installment of "Jazz in the Point" - a fabulous grassroots concert series in one of Montreal's less 'urbane' neighborhoods - you probably also found yourself screaming, and kicking your neighbor under the table. Not out of anger, but from the pure joy and electric thrill of a high octane barn burner.

Five of Montreal's most talented musicians let loose on this project; a full-on, straight ahead romp through some loose roadhouse, jazz-shack shaking, dust-cloud raising tunes. A cutting contest so to speak, but with a rare good-natured, communal glow emanating from the stage. Indeed, by the last tune, the audience was invited up with horns (or just their mouthpieces) to join in the fray, eventually McLean and Wallis removing themselves to survey their good work from the bar with broad smiles and beer in hand.

I have only seen one other show like the Châteauguay Tenors, and that was in New Orleans at Vaughans Lounge. Kermit Ruffins was playing, and I was awestruck by the heady ambiance, the players connection to the crowd... their immersion in the crowd. Indeed, at Vaughans, the players mingle with the dancers, pumping out Dixieland inspired second-line riffs and roars with no amplification other than lung power. The Châteauguay Tenors assume a more crisp, big city demeanor, coming at you like a gleaming steamroller. Oh yes, there was dancing too at Le Diable, taboos of etiquette went under the steamroller.

Directed by Randy Cole

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Al McLean
• Allan
• Cameron Wallis
• Morgan Moore
• Rich Irwin
• Geoff Lapp
• Randy Cole
• Paul Johnston
• Dizzy Gillespie
• Montreal
• Jazz
• Bebop
• Blues
• John Coltrane
• Illinois Jacquet
• Johnny Griffin
• Conn
• Selmer
• Martin
• Sax
• Saxophone
• C Melody

[altrane40]

@aqualogbook

Oh yeah,- undervalued as well!



[aqualogbook]

WOW ! The martin comittee III the best sax

[rnordling]

Beautiful!

[escagad]

increible saxofonista de lo mejor que he escuchado en mi vida

[ronnyorkswingman]

Hej . bra tolkning av låten, lite Hawai,,calle

[roberthkrieger]

awesome

[saviesax]

Bravo Cameron