ALBUM REVIEWS

Saxophonist Frank Foster, musical director of the Count Basie Orchestra for over a decade, has said that apart from that distinguished organization and left to his own devices he would be a different man. “Leo Rising,” his first American album in 25 years, proves his point as Foster teams with a quartet of musicians at least a generation behind him in a thoroughly modern, decidedly non-Basie program.

Bassist Christian McBride, pianist Stephen Scott and drummer Lewis Nash provide the 68-year-old Foster with an elixir for breaking the Basie blues. His play recalls his days with the Elvin Jones band some 25 years back while carrying the spirit of his aggressive big band of that same period, the Loud Minority.

Foster often hints at what he’s capable of when soloing in front of the Basie band, but the material reins him in. That’s not the case here. Hard-bop rules, and even the ballad “When April Comes Again” moves into a moderate tempo during Foster’s tenor solo. He sounds especially good on the title tune against standout trumpeter Derrick Gardner before switching to soprano for a nimble, double-time solo workout.

Too often the “different man” Foster had promised turns out to be John Coltrane. But even when playing out of the Coltrane school, Foster shows his own, determined spirit. He should step out from his important and well-performed duties with the Basie band more often.

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