The Houston Person Quartet
Sat., Jan. 17, 2009 / 8 pm

"Houston Person plays beautifully, in a
warm, honest, uncomplicated style."
                                  --Bill Buchanan

Houston Person is the natural heir to the Boss Tenor crown worn so long and so well by Gene Ammons. In the more than twenty-five years that he has been a working bandleader, Person has taken his show to most points on the globe. A traveling jazzman in an era that has found that particular species a veritable rara avis, Person does it all himself. He books his own tours, hunts up the new clubs, has the phone number of every major concert promoter on each continent and produces his own albums, Truly the vertically integrated jazzman.

If, given all this, he played mediocre tenor it would be easy to forgive him. But he doesn't--he plays damn good tenor and it keeps getting better. One of the last proponents of the big sound, his tone has gotten bigger even as his delivery has mellowed and rounded out. And, of course, with Person you are likely to hear almost anything in terms of repertoire. He has recorded disco and gospel, pop and r&b in addition to his natural jazz but beyond that he has an enormous and ever changing book. Nothing pedestrian or everyday for Person!

In getting down with a Hammond organist, Person is returning to his own roots. His first big break came while a sideman with organist Johnny Hammond and his own group, co-led with Etta Jones, featured organ right into the mid-80's. One of the reasons for switching to a piano trio was the difficulty finding good organists. The instrument had begun falling into disfavor in the early 70's and many of us thought that perhaps it would be the end of the genre. Yet there has been a resurgence of interest in the instrument.

In Person's long and rewarding partnership with Etta Jones the only thing missing is the ability to hear a little bit more of either performer on a night when everything is really clicking. Person will open their live performances an, after a bit, Etta will come out of the audience to take the bandstand. As you read this they are probably performing somewhere in the world. The rhythm section of Stan Hope, Peter Martin Weiss and Cecil Brooks III has served them well and continues to impress as a first class team. But here Person looks back, one time, to the way things were. It sure sounds good!

--BOB PORTER, from the liner notes The Party, M

From AMG Reviews

Houston Person was among the guttiest of the gutbucket saxophonists of the soul-jazz golden age -- for proof, look no further than Legends of Acid Jazz: Houston Person, which compiles two of the saxman's most popular releases, Person to Person and Houston Express (both originally released in 1970). Express featured the "funkmaster general" of the tenor saxophone with a tight, pocket-sized ensemble (including guitarist Grant Green and drummer Idris Muhammad), while, on Person, his supporting ensemble expanded to include trumpet players Cecil Bridgewater and Thad Jones, guitarist Billy Butler and another kindred spirit and prince of funk on his instrument, Motown bassist Gerry Jemmott. the Chi-Lites), "Close to You" (the Carpenters), "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yester-Day" (Stevie Wonder), "Young, Gifted and Black" (Aretha Franklin), "Just My Imagination" (the Temptations), and "Lift Every Voice and Sing," which Person describes in his liner notes as the "black national anthem." Person and friends turn every one of these, and others such as his own "Up at Joe's, Down at Jim's" and his trademark "The Houston Express" into stinging, swinging, original-sounding opuses of funk.
                                                                  - Chris Slawecki, All Music Guide

Houston Person plays "back-up" for whatever you're doing...?As the album title suggests, this is romantic mood music, and as that, it's really quite good. Houston Person has a tenor sound that is about as pure as it can be. While other tenor men in jazz have had unique sounds that are always described as "jazz saxophone" sounds, Houston's sound is pure. It is one of the most lush, elegant, tenor sounds ever heard, and the man plays the instrument with feeling, but always in tune. He doesn't "scoop" the tones, he just nails them with a legato finesse. The tunes are all standards, and there's nothing truly "special" about the treatment, although I keep feeling I'd like the drummer to pick up the beat just a tad. This album is not a tribute to improvisational innovation, it's more like accompaniment for your evening's activities. Nice. Submitted by John (Manteca, CA)

Jazz In January
The Centenary Performing Arts Guild will feature, “Jazz In January 2009”, a three concert series beginning Saturday, Jan. 10th at 8pm in the Dome in the main administrative building on the campus of Centenary College - 400 Jefferson Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 (Directions).

2009 Tickets

Tickets Now On Sale

Tickets can be purchased by calling 908-637-6455 or Centenary Box Office at 908-979-0900 Or through our Secure Online Ticketing System (Series not available online except as comment request) - MasterCard, Visa, Cash or Checks Accepted.

Tickets may also be purchased with CASH or CHECK at these convenient locations:
Panther Valley Inn
Valley National Bank
Hackettstown Carpet
Long Valley Music Center
Hackettstown Trading Post
Skylands Bank ( Mountain Ave Only)

Return to Jazz In January Page

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