Tenor saxophonist
Dan St. Marseille's debut as a leader is a tribute to
Chet Baker.
Marseille has a soft tone that works well with his swinging style, and his rhythm section (pianist
Cecilia Coleman, bassist Ernie Nunez and drummer
Denny Dennis) is excellent, but it is trumpeter Larry Gillespie (who takes vocals that sound eerily close to
Baker, certainly an acquired taste) who is most responsible for the project's success. With only a couple of exceptions (most notably the leader's "Phillippe Sleep"), the music is largely from
Baker's repertoire, including a 9½-minute, six-tune medley. Altoist
Gary Foster sits in quite effectively on an "April Medley" comprised of "I'll Remember April" and
Lennie Tristano's "April." ~ Scott Yanow