Tough Young Tenors

Rising saxophonists James Carter, Walter Blanding, Tim Warfield, Herb Harris, and Todd Williams assembled as the Tough Young Tenors for the 1991 Antilles release Alone Together. The result was a fine session in a vintage jam session context, featuring solos from all five saxmen backed by pianist Marcus Roberts, bassist Reginald Veal, and drummer Ben Riley (i.e., the Marcus Roberts Trio). The saxophonists were presented on an equal footing at the time, but have had varying levels of success in the decades since Alone Together was issued. Blanding, Harris, and Williams all played with Wynton Marsalis and Blanding and Harris have both led their own recording sessions; Warfield has issued a half-dozen solo releases and served as a sideman on numerous other recordings; while, among the five, Carter has undoubtedly risen to the highest stature in the jazz world, releasing 14 albums as a leader up to and including 2011's Caribbean Rhapsody and repeatedly winning Down Beat critics' polls for top baritone saxophonist. Carter has also been a member of latter-day incarnations of the World Saxophone Quartet, appearing on tenor and soprano on the group's 2011 release Yes We Can. ~ Ron Wynn & Dave Lynch, Rovi