Nick Brignola - Poinciana (1997)

As has been noted in other reviews of Nick Brignola's recordings on Reservoir Records, these are the best renderings of a true baritone sax artist. The title cut on this album is worth the price of admission alone. Brignola takes Ahmad Jamal's version of the same song to another plane and almost doubles the length. He stretches it out to places where Café, the great Brazilian percussionist, can put in percussion both delicate and sensual. The title cut is unforgettable and to be reckoned with. There's hard bop and swing here, too. There are very sensitive and forward takes on "A Ghost of a Chance" and "When You Wish Upon a Star." Billy Strayhorn's "Upper Manhattan Medical Group" is another track that blisters with energy. "April Mist" is a samba that moves right along the path. Brignola had an uncanny ability to combine his muscular phrasing with a supreme sensitivity. Nick Brignola never got the recognition that he deserved while alive, which is common with jazz musicians. But that doesn't mean that their work won't live forever in the form of recorded music. Highly recommended for jazz fans and listeners who want to go beyond musical categories.

Review by Mark Romano