Charles McPherson - Manhattan Nocturne (Arabesque, 1997)

Charles McPherson, alto sax
Mulgrew Miller, piano
Ray Drummond, bass
Victor Lewis, drums

Bobby Sanabria, percussion

Recorded April 24 & 25, 1997

EastSide Sound, NYC

Engineer: Lou Holtzman

Jazz artists who matured in the mid 1960s quickly encountered one of the low points in the history of jazz recording. As jazz records struggled to compete in a marketplace filled with best-selling rock stars, jazz artists often chose to adjust their bebop tendencies and move into fusion. Some, such as Freddie Hubbard and George Benson, played what would evolve into "smooth jazz" while others, notably Miles Davis, steered toward electric jazz‑rock fusion.

Among those who stayed the course, Charles McPherson stands out. His 7 albums on Prestige between 1965 and 1970 reveal no attempt to compromise his style to sell more records. Of course, he probably did sell fewer records, but artistically his Prestige albums match or surpass many bebop albums of the 1960s. McPherson continued to record in the 1970s on labels such as Xanadu and Mainstream. The 1980s saw his releases drop off, but the 90s witnessed his resurgence.

Manhattan Nocturne is one of three outstanding McPherson albums released on the Arabesque label in the 1990s. The others are First Flight Out (1994) and Come Play with Me (1995). Manhattan Nocturne benefits from a superb band at the peak of its powers. The leader's liquid alto ranges from sultry to soaring. Pianist Mulgrew Miller is fully engaged, using his solo space to reinvent each tune. 

Manhattan Nocturne's program consists of four standards and four originals. "Evidence" and "Blue n' Boogie" recall McPherson's bebop roots. The other two standards are ballads. "You're My Thrill" is a sultry number featuring Bobby Sanabria's Latin percussion. Miller's solo tells a whole story on its own: a master class in improvisation. "How Deep Is the Ocean" finds McPherson luxuriating in a solo that stays close to the original melody. Miller's solo begins in the same way before it moves deep into improvised territory.

Four of McPherson's originals portray the nocturnal Manhattan ambience that the album's title promises: the title track, "Morning Dance," "Primal Urge," and "Fire Dance." Sanabria's percussion is integral to the album's theme, whether it's salsa dance steps or smoldering nocturnal urges.