On All We Need, Antonio Hart takes a breather from his collaborations with the Dave Holland Quintet and offers this excellent recording that features a top-flight ensemble of jazz musicians on ten compositions. Written mainly by Hart and the awesome tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath of the Heath Brothers, the songs are straight-ahead jazz pieces that give plenty of blowing room for all musicians. In addition to Heath on tenor saxophone; Lonnie Plaxico on bass; Billy Kilson and Nasheet Waits on drums; Shedrick Mitchell on piano, ...
Read More
On All We Need, Antonio Hart takes a breather from his collaborations with the Dave Holland Quintet and offers this excellent recording that features a top-flight ensemble of jazz musicians on ten compositions. Written mainly by Hart and the awesome tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath of the Heath Brothers, the songs are straight-ahead jazz pieces that give plenty of blowing room for all musicians. In addition to Heath on tenor saxophone; Lonnie Plaxico on bass; Billy Kilson and Nasheet Waits on drums; Shedrick Mitchell on piano, Hammond B3, and Rhodes; Michael Philip Mossman on trumpet; Renato Thomas on percussion; and Maya Azucena on vocals, this sterling CD boasts liner notes by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dave Holland, and Heath. Hart plays both soprano and alto saxophones, as well as flute and synthesizer on this set, and really cuts loose on "Auditory Illusion." His sound is introspective and laid-back on "Crystal." It sends a very mellow message when pianist Shedrick Mitchell adds his sensuous, smooth, urban grooves. Heath contributes "Bruh Slim" and "A Harmonic Future," which feature his swinging tenor bebop solos that harmonize righteously with Hart's great alto saxophonics. As with the opening song, the set closes with a variation of the title track -- both being sung by Maya Azucena. Her voice is soulful and loving on "Love Is All We Need" and gospel-tinged on the closer "God Is All We Need." This is an excellent student/teacher (Hart and Heath) collaboration and one that offers many beautiful, as well as memorable, melodies long after the record ends. ~ Paula Edelstein, Rovi
Read Less
