David "Fathead" Newman Cityscape CD

Personnel: David "Fathead" Newman (flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); David "Fathead" Newman ; Howard Glover "Johnny" Johnson (baritone saxophone); Winston Byrd (trumpet, flugelhorn); Benny Powell (trombone); David Leonhardt (piano); Yoron Israel (drums); Howard Johnson , John Menegon.
Liner Note Author: Bob Blumenthal.
Recording information: M&I Recording Studios, New York, NY (08/17/2005).
David "Fathead" Newman has always straddled the line between jazz and R&B, and this fine, easy-going release from 2006 is a case in point. There are chops and grooves galore on this set, both from the leader and from his excellent band (a septet that boasts a mighty horn section).
Whether on opener "Goldfinger" (the classic James Bond theme), the gospel-touched "Here Comes Sonny Man," or the tightly funky "Suki Duki," Newman delivers with the same sort of rhythmic ease and melodic grace he's been known for since the 1950s. CITYSCAPE is full of vigorous but highly accessible groove-oriented jazz.
Cityscape is one of those moments where a veteran jazzman places himself in a setting in order to showcase the music he's made -- David "Fathead" Newman is beginning his sixth decade as a working musician -- what he's learned and where he's likely to travel. The band is a septet, one of the rarer sessions for Newman. His own working band -- pianist David Leonhardt, bassist John Menegon, and drummer Yoron Israel -- are here, and so are some old friends, like baritone saxophonist Howard Johnson, trombonist Benny Powell, and Winston Byrd on trumpet and flugelhorn. The horn arrangements actually serve to make Newman's trademark warm, easy grooving style even more so. The set opens with "Goldfinger," the classic James Bond theme. Newman's bunch enter in unison on the theme; it's a beautiful call to attention before he takes his solo on the melody, just grooving and blowing. The baritone, trombone, and trumpet here allow Newman a wide base to lift off from, but his well-known restraint is in place here, too. Other fine moments on this disc are the swinging blues in "Bu Bop Bass," full of swagger and humor. Johnson's "Here Comes Sunny Man," has a gorgeous horn chart rooted in gospel and blues but falls out more like Burt Bacharach-meets-Ray Charles. The soul is in there, keeping the elegance form running away with the tune. Newman's flute gets down and dirty in his own "Flankin'," copping a Yusef Lateef-vibe before the band enters and turns the whole thing into a modal blues. Gospel and soul-jazz go head-to-head on "Sneakin' In," another Newman composition with a wonderfully gritty solo by the bandleader. The set closes with "Suki Duki," by Ronnie Boykins. It's fast, knotty, and deeply funky, led by a complex horn chart and Israel's solid backbeat groove. It's takes the album out on such a high note, listeners are left wanting more. And of course, that's the point. Newman's consistency as a bandleader is remarkable and this is yet another session that proves the point. The man is a treasure. ~ Thom JurekJazzTimes (p.123) - "CITYSCAPE proves that Newman hasn't lost much of his fastball. He's still a solid, straight-forward improviser, heavy on blues feeling and refreshingly light on thrills."