Jeff Rupert - From Memphis To Mobile (CD)

On “From Memphis To Mobile,” tenor saxophonist JEFF RUPERT presents an homage to his Southern roots. Based in the blues, his original tunes, “Rock Skippin',” “Bad Moon,” “If I Had Only Known,” “The Norfolk Southern RR,” “Chasin' Tail,” “Walking Home,” and “Thunderbird,” collectively paint a portrait of boyhood in the Southland. Joined by the superb rhythm section of drummer John Jenkins (Horace Silver, Greg Abate), bassist Richard Drexler (Woody Herman, Dave Liebman) and world renowned piano genius Kenny Drew, Jr., Rupert's tenor sears a swath of swing throughout, lending his Stan Getz-like approach to everything from ballads to burners. He and pianist Drew go it alone on the duets: Sam Rivers' lovely “Beatrice,” the gorgeous Gershwin classic “I Loves You Porgy,” a sprightly, humid “Basin Street Blues,” and one of Duke Ellington's most beautiful and poignant compositions, “A Single Petal of a Rose.” Jeff Rupert has toured and recorded wit