On Thursday night Eric Alexander lead the band with David Hazeltine on piano, John Webber on bass, and Craig Wuepper on drums. Eric's love of the saxophone and the music and the work oozes out of him when he plays. He has an enormous presence and a brilliant, curious mind that never stops reaching for something new. When he started to play "Autumn in New York" (click here to see it on youtube) the power of his horn balanced against the melancholy beauty of the melody was simply staggering. David Hazeltine's arrangement of "Sunday in New York" was sublime. John Webber's fingers fly across his bass and the music is hot and solid, fluid and surprising. Eric killed it on an improvisation of Coltrane's Lazybird. Mike DiRubbo, a fierce sax player, showed up for the second set and Eric and Mike took off on "Sweet and Lovely." David Ruffels showed up and sat in on the bass, as did David Croce. Ibiza Jazz Nights is now six months old and going strong. It is a privilege to be there every week in the company of these committed, risk-taking, uncompromising, eloquent artists. This week, Nov. 18th, Eric Alexander and Joe Farnsworth will be playing together.
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