The First Milestone

Although Alexander has had stuff released on Milestone previously, this is actually his first album recorded specifically for the label (the others were licensed from Japan's Alfa label). So it isn't a debut per se, but no matter. Not the least of the CDs attractions are the three Alexander compositions front-loaded at the top, winners all. Indeed, the disc gets off to a flying, propulsive start with a tune ironically entitled "Stand Pat," — which of course refers to the album's sometime guest guitarist Pat Martino, who proceeds to slow the pace way down for his solo. "34 Was Sweetness," written as a remembrance of the late football running back Walter Payton, is sweetness itself, a very good tune, as is Alexander's title tune. John Williams's "The Towering Inferno" gets a surprisingly swinging outing, and the Strouse/Adams showtune "Night Song" contains a memorable piano riff for Harold Mabern. "The Phineas Trane" tries to make a concept piece out of a train pulling into the station before settling for some straight-ahead grooving with Martino in full cry. With Peter Washington (bass) and Joe Farnsworth (drums) setting the pace, this is an excellent mainstream session in the Todd Barkan-produced style, where Alexander's husky, commanding tenor sax is developing into a heavyweight contender in that crowded field.