Jerry Bergonzi - Dog Star

The Guardian 60

(Savant)

Jerry Bergonzi unapologetically makes music for insiders. The US saxophonist, educator and former Dave Brubeck sideman writes terse tunes that are setups for extended variations rather than standalone melodies, yet his phrasing is so unpredictable and his tone so rich (in sometimes pristine, sometimes abrasive falsettos, purring or scowling deep sounds) that even doubters find themselves gripped. On tenor sax throughout, he’s joined on this quintet set by the excellent Danish pianist Carl Winther (who contributes two of the eight original tracks) and sometimes by warm-toned trumpeter Phil Grenadier. A classic 60s hard-bop mood is recalled by the trumpet/sax harmony of the coolly brooding Pleiades, with Bergonzi’s balance of steadily shapely lines and twisting double-time bursts immediately stamping home his authority. The spacey title track is cryptically Wayne Shorterish; Live Stream is an exercise in tenor-ballad subtlety; the sighing outbreaths and briefly whirling runs of Darkness evoke Charles Lloyd. It’s all a long way from pop-jazz, but Bergonzi couldn’t play a cliche to save his life.