Eric Alexander Quartet – Gentle Ballads II (Vinil 180g, LP dublu)

American musician Eric Wells Alexander began playing piano, clarinet, and (at age twelve) alto saxophone, but switched to tenor saxophone while studying at Indiana University and, after classical training, to jazz. He continued his studies at William Paterson College in New Jersey with Joe Lovano, Rufus Reid and pianist Harold Mabern. In 1991, he came second in the Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition behind superstar Joshua Redman and made his first recordings with Charles Earland on Muse Records in the same year. Today, he is considered one of the best tenor saxophonists of his generation and has long been represented by Venus Records with numerous albums. The 2004 album “Gentle Ballads”, which Allmusic compared to Coltrane’s Ballads LP from the early 1960s, was so successful that it spawned a whole series with changing line-ups.

“Gentle Ballads II” was recorded on March 22, 2006, at The Studio, New York – with exactly the same line-up that made the first album so famous: Mike LeDonne on piano, John Webber on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums. Alexander’s powerful and extremely expressive tone has also remained, as has the varied program that envelops the listener in wonderful evening sounds.

Venus Records was founded in Japan in 1992 by Tetsuo Hara, who had previously worked as a producer for RCA Victor. The renowned label uses a special mastering process called “Hyper Magnum Sound,” which produces a powerful, dynamic sound and is highly regarded by audiophiles worldwide. A quick note: Venus LPs are pressed only once. Once the run is sold out, the title is removed from the catalog and will not be reissued. Collectors should therefore not wait too long to place their orders: the releases from the “Venus Masterpiece Collection” are extremely popular!

We recommend the use of „L’Art du Son” LP cleaner to wet wash your vinyl. Even new records of high quality production will benefit from this.

Lista pieselor

LP 1

Side A
1.    Funny
2.    Who Can I Turn To

Side B
1.    I’m A Fool To Want You
2.    Mona Lisa

LP 2

Side C
1.    I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)
2.    Look Of Love

Side D
1.    Li’l Darlin’
2.    Time After Time
3.    My Ship