Dan St Marseille Departure CD

A fine Orange County-based tenor saxophonist probably best known for his cool jazz recordings on his own Resurgent Music label, Dan St. Marseille shows on this quartet date that he is also quite capable of playing high-quality hard bop and post-bop. Teamed up with bassist Henry Franklin (who put together the rhythm section), pianist Kirk Lightsey and drummer Carl Burnette for an advanced straight-ahead jazz set, St. Marseille sounds clearly inspired by his sidemen and the diverse material. The quartet performs numbers by Lightsey, Franklin, Jerry Kalaf, Carlos Villalobos ("Guapa," which adds Poncho Sanchez to the band), Wayne Shorter ("Pinocchio"), Tom Harrell and a standard apiece by Ray Noble ("The Touch of Your Lips") and Tadd Dameron ("If You Could See Me Now"). Lightsey (who borders on being a major name) and the fluent Franklin have plenty of solo space, but it is the leader's tough-toned tenor (inspired by Sonny Rollins and consistently overflowing with fertile ideas) that most makes this a CD well worth picking up. ~ Scott Yanow

Jazz saxophonist/clarinetist and recording artist Dan St. Marseille plays in the tradition of all the jazz legends. Employing a warm tone and melodic approach, he has won praise from jazz critics worldwide. Dan's recordings are heard internationally on jazz radio and have been the subject of articles in such publications as Downbeat, Jazztimes, Los Angeles Times, Japan's Jazz Critic magazine, among others. Three of St. Marseille's CD's received four star ratings in the third edition of the All Music Guide To Jazz; The Experts Guide To The Best Jazz Recordings.In addition to local and national tours, Dan has performed in Europe, Canada and many jazz clubs and festivals including a headline performance at the prestigious Coleman Hawkins Festival in Topeka, Kansas.Dan's own composition "Claxography", written for renowned jazz photographer William Claxton, was chosen as the title of Claxton's new book of photographs in which Dan also appears.. In May of 2001, Dan was the music director for an international event entitled "Clickin' With Clax" at the Los Angeles County Museum Of Art.In April of 1999, he was inducted into the Saddleback Valley School Districts Hall Of Fame which included such other greats as golfer Mark O'Meara and soccer player Julie Foudy.Dan St. Marseille is also a Yamaha Performing Artist and educator, having presented workshops at major Colleges and Universities and maintains a regular teaching studio in Southern California.

Audio Mixer: Joe McNeil.

Recording information: Entourage Studios, North Hollywood, CA (02/27/1998-02/28/1998).

Photographer: William Claxton.

Producers: Dan St. Marseille, Marcello Soliven.

Personnel: Dan St. Marseille (tenor saxophone); Kirk Lightsey (piano); Henry Franklin (acoustic bass); Carl Burnette (drums); Poncho Sanchez (percussion).