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Joe Ford

One of the most exciting truths in the jazz world is that within every top sideman is a solo artist itching to emerge from the shadows and into the forefront. Longtime McCoy Tyner saxophonist Joe Ford's stunning and diverse Bluemoon debut, Today's Nights, proves that such an evolution is more than worth the years of life and musical experience that go into it.

The straight ahead-oriented collection showcases Ford's masterful melodic and improvisational skills on both soprano and tenor saxes, adding touches of contemporary jazz and blues to what is truly a "players album," emphasizing the inspired interaction between Ford and such long-term associates as bassist Charles Fambrough (who also co-produced), Tonight Show pianist Kenny Kirkland and drummers Jeff "lain" Watts and Darrell Brown.

'When Charles helped open the avenues for my own project, I decided it would be best to simply play the things I like the most, picking music that would provide a glimpse of my life," Ford says. "All the styles I grew up with and have played professionally — funk, gospel, classical, avante garde and jazz — are within me, and now have an opportunity to come out. Though I've been playing professionally for many years, all the tunes are brand new, providing a current overview of what I'm about at the present time."

Ford eases into Today's Nights with the cool, breezy title track, on which his inventive soprano melodicism fronts the swinging trio of Kirkland, Fambrough and Watts. He switches to alto on the percussive, driving "Interior Motive," which features wild improvisation over Kirkland's funky piano foundation. The lush "Amy's Waltz" showcases Ford's tender side, with Kirkland providing a pretty solo spot as well as tasteful synth orchestral colors.

The whimsical "Buffalo Chips" starts out as a furious ensemble improvisation (highlighted by Watts' skin playing) before evolving into a punchy, rhythmic jazz piece. Ford chose Herbie Hancock's percussive contemporary standard "Chemical Residue" due to its presentation of "different possibilities," which include Vince Evans adding spacey synth textures to the bright, percussive mix. "Blues Muse," written the day it was recorded, is a methodical, simmering gem in the classic blues style, featuring Ford's flowing alto over Kirkland's elegant funk.

"My Life With You" is a sweet, romantic soprano/acoustic piano duet with Kirkland, while "Always Thinking of You" heightens the tempo slightly for a silky, soulful and moody Quiet Storm effect. Today's Nights closes with a bang on "Izit," as Ford, Fambrough and guest drummer Nasai Abady cook up a groove that stretches the boundaries of most conventional jazz lmprov ensemble action. As with most of the pieces, "lilt" is marked by magnificent soloing by each member around the melody.

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Album Review

Larry Willis: I Fall in Love Too Easily

Read "I Fall in Love Too Easily" reviewed by Jack Bowers


I Fall in Love Too Easily is subtitled “The Final Session at Rudy Van Gelder's," as it is not only descriptively but literally the last recording session by veteran pianist Larry Willis, who died at age seventy-six in September 2019, one year after the album was completed at the renowned Van Gelder studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The occasion also represented a homecoming of sorts for Willis who launched his six-decades-long career at that same studio in 1965, cutting ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Joe Ford

Jazz Musician of the Day: Joe Ford

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Joe Ford's birthday today!

One of the most exciting truths in the jazz world is that within every top sideman is a solo artist itching to emerge from the shadows and into the forefront. Longtime McCoy Tyner saxophonist Joe Ford's stunning and diverse Bluemoon debut, Today's Nights, proves that such an evolution is more than worth the years of life and musical experience that go into it. The straight ahead-oriented collection showcases Ford's masterful melodic ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Joe Ford

Jazz Musician of the Day: Joe Ford

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Joe Ford's birthday today!

One of the most exciting truths in the jazz world is that within every top sideman is a solo artist itching to emerge from the shadows and into the forefront. Longtime McCoy Tyner saxophonist Joe Ford's stunning and diverse Bluemoon debut, Today's Nights, proves that such an evolution is more than worth the years of life and musical experience that go into it. The straight ahead-oriented collection showcases Ford's masterful melodic ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Joe Ford

Jazz Musician of the Day: Joe Ford

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Joe Ford's birthday today!

One of the most exciting truths in the jazz world is that within every top sideman is a solo artist itching to emerge from the shadows and into the forefront. Longtime McCoy Tyner saxophonist Joe Ford's stunning and diverse Bluemoon debut, Today's Nights, proves that such an evolution is more than worth the years of life and musical experience that go into it. The straight ahead-oriented collection showcases Ford's masterful melodic ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Joe Ford

Jazz Musician of the Day: Joe Ford

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Joe Ford's birthday today!

One of the most exciting truths in the jazz world is that within every top sideman is a solo artist itching to emerge from the shadows and into the forefront. Longtime McCoy Tyner saxophonist Joe Ford's stunning and diverse Bluemoon debut, Today's Nights, proves that such an evolution is more than worth the years of life and musical experience that go into it. The straight ahead-oriented collection showcases Ford's masterful melodic ...

Recording

Joe Ford: Today's Nights

Joe Ford: Today's Nights

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Saxophonist Joe Ford has released just one studio album as a leader. Which is surprising considering how superb the recording is. The album is Today's Nights, recorded in New York for Spain's Blue Moon label in March 1993. The line up features Joe Ford (as,sop), Kenny Kirkland (p), Charles Fambrough (b) and Jeff “Tain" Watts (d). Special guests include Darrell Brown and Nasai Abady (d), and Vince Evans (synth). Born in 1947, Ford studied with Jackie McLean, and Frank Foster, ...

72

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Joe Ford

Jazz Musician of the Day: Joe Ford

Source:

All About Jazz is celebrating Joe Ford's birthday today!

One of the most exciting truths in the jazz world is that within every top sideman is a solo artist itching to emerge from the shadows and into the forefront. Longtime McCoy Tyner saxophonist Joe Ford\'s stunning and diverse Bluemoon debut, Today\'s Nights, proves that such an evolution is more than worth the years of life and musical experience that go into it...One of the most exciting truths in the jazz ...

72

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Joe Ford

Jazz Musician of the Day: Joe Ford

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Joe Ford's birthday today!

JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Joe Ford

One of the most exciting truths in the jazz world is that within every top sideman is a solo artist itching to emerge from the shadows and into the forefront. Longtime McCoy Tyner saxophonist Joe Ford\'s stunning and diverse Bluemoon debut... more

Website | Photos | Articles

Follow Joe Ford

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Joe Ford

Jazz Musician of the Day: Joe Ford

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz is celebrating Joe Ford's birthday today!

JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Joe Ford

One of the most exciting truths in the jazz world is that within every top sideman is a solo artist itching to emerge from the shadows and into the forefront. Longtime McCoy Tyner saxophonist Joe Ford\'s stunning and diverse Bluemoon debut... more

Website | Videos | Articles

Follow Joe Ford @ AAJ

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Technology

A Seasoned Performer Converges With Contemporary Accessibility

A Seasoned Performer Converges With Contemporary Accessibility

Source: Purpose Media Management

Garnered with an impressive career spanning over five decades, Joe Ford is now being introduced to fans globally via the World Wide Web. The newly launched site, jafjazz.com is an online portal that allows longtime fans and new listeners alike to see, hear and learn all they can about Joe Ford's incredible career.

Alto, soprano saxophonist, arranger and composer; Joe Ford was one of the many musical talents born and raised in Buffalo, NY. Although Ford had been performing professionally ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

I Fall in Love Too...

HighNote Records
2020

buy

Today's Nights

Unknown label
1993

buy

Today's Night

Blue Moon
1993

buy

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band / ensemble / orchestra

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