Texas-born altoist John Handy moved to New York City in his mid-twenties and was promptly recruited by Charles Mingus, appearing on the classic LPs Mingus Ah-Um, Blues and Roots and Mingus Dynasty all recorded in 1959. Everything Handy thought he knew about theory and performance was challenged by the maverick composer whose adventurous and demanding music forced his players to stretch their abilities as far as reasonably possible. Successfully absorbing this influence without being overwhelmed, John Handy’s second album as leader No Coast Jazz superbly profiles the individuality of this excellent saxophonist. The title may refer to his hope that this music is neither representative of West Coast or East Coast jazz, or that the playing pushes with a modicum of intensity rather than merely ‘coasting’. Either way John Handy has here crafted a singular sliver of music that owns itself completely. Among the straight up bop tunes ‘Hi Number’ and the prancing 5/4 opener ‘To Randy’ there is plenty of risk-taking to be found, particularly on ‘Boo’s Ups and Downs’, a moody reel of jazz-noir, and the daring ‘No Coast’ featuring a tremendous turn by veteran drummer Lex Humphries that closes the album. There are traces of Coltrane on the gorgeous ballad ‘Tales of Paradise’ with impressionistic piano colouring by Don Friedman, and his soloing on ‘Pretty Side Avenue’ (with its wonderful arco-bass solo by Bill Lee) is reminiscent of Cannonball Adderley, but these are just subtle shadings. Overall the album defines a sincere and confident approach that embraces both night and day with a perfectly tuned sensitivity for the gravity required.
Jazz of the Spheres 