Bernd Reiter Quintet featuring Eric Alexander: Workout At Bird's Eye

Rating: ★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Olivier Hutman
Bernd Reiter (d)
Helmut Kagerer
Viktor Nyberg
Eric Alexander

Label:

SteepleChase

May/2016

Catalogue Number:

SCCD 33123

RecordDate:

27 February 2015

The Austrian drummer here leads his European band and US guest in a tribute to Hank Mobley, taking in a tip of the hat to Grant Green along the way. Two nights in the Basel club were the culmination of a month's European tour. Reiter drives from the start with a strong intro to Mobley's ‘Workout’, the title apt not only for Reiter's take on ‘Philly’ Joe Jones’ hustle, but for the band's attack and enthusiasm. The lovely Green arrangement of Lennon and McCartney's ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ lets the tension relax into a bossa beat, though with marginally more pace than the original. It gives Kagerer ample room to stretch. Two more Mobleys – ‘Gettin’ And Jettin” and ‘Uh Huh’ – plus Jimmy Van Heusen's ‘All The Way’ and Tadd Dameron's ‘Super Jet’ complete the set. The tightness of the band, the energy of the solos, the quality of the recording, but most of all the common cause and rapport clearly audible between Reiter and Alexander, make this one of the most enjoyable straight-ahead listens in a while.

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