Terry Gordon

Review by Ron Lipka (ITG Journal)

The Arch Stanton Quartet presents such a variety of grooves and feels that the listener cannot be bored or avoid being intrigued by the expectation of what would come next – all from just a quartet. The group had a US Embassy-sponsored tour of Egypt in 2013, inspiring this latest CD. The band is a mostly acoustic group, and if any categorization is possible, it may be down-home post-bop. Trumpeter Terry Gordon is an unpretentious, straight-ahead jazz player who never resorts to faster, higher, and louder gimmicks. Instead, he is an intriguing, melodic, and soulful artist with a fine sound and plenty of inventive ideas. The first four tracks, though entitled Lady Egypt Suite, remain in the “down-home” style of Arch Stanton. “Kofta” sets the mood with a slow minor-blues feel with lots of backbeat and a funky vibe, giving giving Gordon extensive solo room that is complemented by the Southern blues style of guitarist Roger Noyes. It is Noyes who wrote most of the material and supplies the Delta background grooves as noted in his work on “Zamalek,” where, lightly amped, he is funky like B.B. King playing jazz. “Groovin' at the Azur” is the quartet at its expressive best as it goes on a modal journey with Gordon and Noyes trading fours. Gordon is impressive and inventive and also influenced a bit by Freddie Hubbard. The second half of the recording features originals mostly by Noyes and goes from ballad style in “Aphorisms” (sensitive flugelhorn) to the soulful blues of “Dungoode Bayou” to the hard swinging “Striped Water.” The rhythmic intensity is infectious, and this group is not afraid to swing and have fun doing it. The sound production is excellent and the packaging fine, though more liner information would be nice. For a good listening experience, get this CD – the Arch Stanton Quartet is a treasure of gold.