David "Fathead" NEWMAN - Blue Head 1990

David "Fathead" NEWMAN - Blue Head 1990
CCD-79041
Recording Date Sep 3, 1989

Jazz

Newman often worked with his own quartet and he undertook European tours. His albums included Blue Head (1989) ,with the tenor player Clifford Jordan, and a tribute to Duke Ellington, Mr Gentle, Mr Cool (1994). In 1990, he, Art Blakey and Dr John were nominated for a Grammy with their album, Bluesiana Triangle, and in 1996 he appeared as a musician at the Hey-Hey Club in Robert Altman's film Kansas City.
When Newman moved from New York to the country, he made the idyllic Under a Woodstock Moon (1996), which featured such songs as "Nature Boy" and "Skylark". He released a tribute album to Ray Charles, I Remember Brother Ray, to coincide with the film in 2005. He also worked with his son, the vocalist and drummer, Cadino Newman.
By Spencer Leigh.
**
The distinctive tenors David Newman and Clifford Jordan make for a potent team on this live jam session set which finds Jordan sitting in with Newman's quartet (which includes guitarist Ted Dunbar, pianist Buddy Montgomery, bassist Todd Coolman and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith). The six performances each clock in between 11 and 15 minutes with plenty of stretching out for the two veteran saxophonists, guitarist Dunbar and pianist Montgomery. "Fathead" mostly alternates between tenor and alto while Jordan switches to his rarely heard soprano on "Blues For David." The good-natured tenor tradeoffs on "Strike Up The Band" are in the tradition of Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons, Newman's "Blue Head" is strongly reminiscent of "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" and his alto playing on a medium-tempo "Willow Weep For Me" takes solo honors. Of the other cuts, "What's New" is a tasteful feature for Dunbar's guitar and Jordan's "Eyewitness Blues" wraps up the fine performance with a 32-bar romp. Easily recommended to straightahead jazz fans.
By Scott Yanow. AMG.
**
David "Fathead" Newman- (Saxophones, Flute)
Clifford Jordan- (Saxophones)
Ted Dunbar- (Guitar)
Charles "Buddy" Montgomery- (Piano)
Todd Coolman- (Bass)
Marvin "Smitty" Smith- (Drums)
**
01. Strike Up The Band  11:09
02. Blue Head  14:10
03. Willow Weep For Me 12:58
04. Blues For David  12:05
05. What's New?  11:49
06. Eye Witness Blues  11:14
**

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David "Fathead" NEWMAN - Lone Star Legend 1980

David "Fathead" NEWMAN - Lone Star Legend 1980

Jazz

RESURGENCE! was recorded at Sound Heights, Brooklyn, New York on September 23, 1980. STILL HARD TIMES was recorded at Sound Heights, Brooklyn, New York on April 14, 1982. Originally released on Muse Records. Includes liner notes by Michael Cuscuna.

David "Fathead" Newman has such a strong reputation as a soulful saxophonist that sometimes people forget how creative a straight-ahead improviser he can be. His two Muse LPs, Resurgence and Still Hard Times, have been reissued in full on this deluxe single CD. Whether playing tenor, flute, soprano or alto, Newman's solos are full of personality and logical ideas. On one of the sets he is teamed with trumpeter Marcus Belgrave in a sextet (along with guitarist Ted Dunbar, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Louis Hayes). The other date has Newman as part of an octet also including his old bandmate from his Ray Charles days, altoist Hank Crawford; baritonist Howard Johnson; trumpeter Charlie Miller; pianist Larry Willis; bassist Walter Booker; drummer Jimmy Cobb; and vibraphonist Steve Nelson, who has two features of his own. On both sets, Newman is heard in top form and he gets to show off his talents on all of his four axes. The highlights include "Everything Must Change," Walton's "To the Holy Land," "One for My Baby" and "Please Send Me Someone to Love" but all dozen performances are colorful and well-played. Prime Fathead.
By Scott Yanow.
**
Resurgence 1980

David "Fathead" Newman's first freewheeling recording in a number of years showed that he was certainly capable of playing creative soul-jazz and bop when inspired. Newman is joined by the underrated trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, guitarist Ted Dunbar, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Louis Hayes. The best are "Everything Must Change," Hank Crawford's "Carnegie Blues" and Walton's "To the Holy Land." An excellent effort.
By Scott Yanow. AMG.
**
Marcus Belgrave- Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Ted Dunbar- Guitar
Louis Hayes- Drums
David "Fathead" Newman- Flute, Sax (Alto, Soprano, Tenor)
Cedar Walton- Piano, Piano (Electric)
Buster Williams- Bass
**
01. Everything Must Change 4:40
02. Mama Lou 5:50
03. Davey Blue 9:12
04. Carnegie Blues 8:25
05. Akua Ewie 6:22
06. To The Holy Land 7:02
**

Still Hard Times 1982

This 1990 CD from the defunct Muse label reissues a David "Fathead" Newman album from 1982, adding three alternate takes to the original six selections. Newman (heard on tenor, alto, flute, and soprano) is joined in the front line by his old friend, altoist Hank Crawford, baritonist Howard Johnson, and trumpeter Charlie Miller. With a rhythm section comprised of pianist Larry Willis, bassist Walter Booker, and drummer Jimmy Cobb and two appearances by vibraphonist Steve Nelson, Newman has a particularly strong supporting cast. There are two songs apiece by the leader and Crawford (including "Still Hard Times"), plus bluish renditions of "One for My Baby" and "Please Send Me Someone to Love." The music is soulful, swinging, and full of honest feeling, with Newman and Crawford heard in prime form.
By Scott Yanow. AMG.
**
Walter Booker- Bass
Jimmy Cobb- Drums
Hank Crawford- Alto Sax, Horn
Howard Johnson- Baritone Sax
Charlie Miller- Trumpet
Steve Nelson- Vibraphone
David "Fathead" Newman- Flute, Sax (Alto, Soprano, Tenor)
Larry Willis- Piano
**
01. Shana Newman 4:55
02. Blisters Crawford 5:08
03. One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) Arlen, Mercer 5:55
04. To Love Again Crawford 4:55
05. Still Hard Times Newman 6:00
06. Please Send Me Someone to Love Mayfield 5:47
**
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