Joining tenor saxman Jerry Bergonzi on this recording is the exciting Danish pianist, Carl Winther, with whom he first collaborated with in 2010.
The two were anxious to record together but it took several years before they were able to get into the studio. "This world has so many wonderful players but Carl and I are muy simpatico," says Bergonzi. "I feel privileged to work with him bring our music to life." That feeling for the music - and its listeners - is always apparent on 'Dog Star'.
To say a musician blazes his/her own path is a cliché but if the shoe fits... Well the shoe certainly fits tenor saxman Jerry Bergonzi if one is to judge from the splash he made as a musician: writing seven musical education books, releasing five instructional videos, and becoming a significant presence in the Boston scene as both a bandleader and educator.
Bergonzi's style is immediately recognizable but is not easy to categorize. The influences of Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Trane and others are thoroughly integrated into his singular style, one that is adaptable to a variety of contexts. He sounds like Bergonzi.
Personnel: Jerry Bergonzi (tenor saxophone), Phil Grenadier (trumpet), Carl Winther (piano), Johnny Åman (bass), Anders Mogensen (drums)
Review:
"Bergonzi writes terse tunes that are setups for extended variations rather than standalone melodies, yet his phrasing is so unpredictable and his tone so rich (in sometimes pristine, sometimes abrasive falsettos, purring or scowling deep sounds) that even doubters find themselves gripped."--The Guardian
