Search - Von Freeman, Frank Catalano :: You Talkin' to Me?!

Chicago saxophonist Von Freeman--age 75 when this CD hit the street--usually stands out in a crowd (or a two-tenor match-up) with his distinctive mix of forceful basics and a collection of tone bends and wails that were once the preserve of the avant-garde. But here he's in the company of a genuine protégé in 22-year-old Frank Catalano, and while their sounds remain distinctive, it's fascinating to hear the influence of the senior player. Catalano is free of the pat phrases and rote learning of many younger players, aiming instead for a naked expression that combines honks and off-kilter phrases into strongly personal statements. The session is set within the parameters of the mainstream modern, but it has a special energy of its own, with two emotive players who swing hard while pressing the limits of the form. Tadd Dameron's classic "Good Bait" is delivered with raw joy, while Jobim's "Wave" picks up a fresh hard edge. Freeman and Catalano both favor melody, and the common values lend special intensity to the throbbing, modal treatment of "Summertime" and some original blues. Those blues roots will suggest classic tenor teams such as Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt, but there are enough airy split-tones and dissonant, offside runs to hint at John Coltrane's late collaborations with Pharoah Sanders. The two tenors get solid support from a trio of Chicago journeymen: pianist Larry Novak, bassist Larry Kohut, and drummer Joel Spencer. --Stuart Broomer