Cool Sounds From D.C.'s Sax Symbols

Though a generation separates the two saxophonists, both Ron Holloway and Buck Hill are often regarded as Washington's tenor titans. They deserve the acclaim, and their reputations will only be enhanced by their new recordings.

On Holloway's major-label debut, last year's "Slanted," he collaborated with a stellar cast of Washington-based musicians. His new album, "Struttin' " (also released by Milestone/Fantasy), marks a change of venue and tone. Recorded in New York with several musicians who are major-label artists in their own right, including pianist Kenny Barron, guitarist John Scofield and organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, "Struttin' " provides a more well-rounded portrait of Holloway's talent and tastes. Holloway celebrates its release with performances tomorrow at Blues Alley.

Unlike "Slanted," "Struttin' " emphasizes the playful and extroverted side of Holloway's personality. Bred on R&B as well as jazz, Holloway displays his rhythmic vitality in several colorful settings here, beginning with a funky, free-wheeling version of "I Found a New Baby." Bracketed by trumpet and sax lines, the arrangement is laced with spry and sometimes whimsical solos by Holloway, Smith, Scofield and drummer Steve Berrios.

When Berrios adds percussion to the mix on Gene Ammons's "Jungle Strut," the funk takes on an Afro-Cuban flavor; a series of gleefully gritty improvisations by Holloway, Scofield and Smith ensues. Much the same spirit charges "Cobra" -- an unlikely yet likable funk-raga dedicated to Miles Davis, accented by sitar and tabla drums -- but not before Holloway, Smith, Scofield and Berrios bring a spiritual glow to the enduring Tadd Dameron ballad, "Soultrane."

The soulful eloquence and swing that Holloway and such gifted collaborators as pianist Reuben Brown brought to "Slanted" is evident here whenever Barron is at the piano. "Amazon River," the album's insinuating opening track, is ultimately driven by Holloway's brawny tenor, but it's a lovely cadenza by Barron that first establishes the tune's undulating rhythms and Brazilian allure.

The Holloway-Barron duet of "Where Are You" evokes a moment of romantic yearning so seamlessly it's as if the two were reading each other's thoughts. And Larry Willis's cool, finger-popping arrangement of "Come Rain or Come Shine" benefits from similarly cohesive interplay, deriving much of its charm from Barron's cascading solo, bassist David Williams's supple pulse and the deft brushwork of drummer Victor Lewis. Another pop standard, "How Long Has This Been Going On?," has Willis sitting in for Barron and creating an unusually warm and lush setting for the Gershwin theme, a mood tenderly sustained by Holloway's breathy recital.

Copyright 1995 The Washington Post