WESSELL ANDERSON: “The Ways of Warmdaddy” Atlantic (** 1/2)
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Wessell “Warmdaddy” Anderson, best known as a prominent member of Wynton Marsalis’ superb septet, may be the most virtuosic bebop alto saxophonist since Cannonball Adderley. And there are passages here in which Anderson doesn’t have to take a back seat to anyone in terms of articulateness or sheer fleetness of fingers. But Anderson hasn’t yet discovered a way to bring structure and follow-through to his solos, which tend to be undeniably dazzling arrays of rapid-fire runs. The final track, however, in which he comes up with a stunning, completely solo rendering of “Mood Indigo,” clearly indicates that Anderson--given a bit more time to mature--is going to emerge, and very soon, as a major jazz voice.
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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good, recommended), four stars (excellent).
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