Sax Party; At Blues Alley,
Ron Holloway Holds a Birthday Blowout

"Ron Holloway's Birthday Party" at Blues Alley Friday night evolved into a tribute to three of the Washington-based saxophonist's influences -- tenor men Joe Henderson, Stanley Turrentine and Sonny Rollins. The harmonic innovations of alto titan Charlie Parker were also evoked during an alternately spirited and soulful sax retrospective.

The tribute came at the close of the opening set when Holloway, who just turned 48, and his band mates revived three signature tunes: Henderson's "Recorda Me," Turrentine's "Sugar," and Rollins's "Sonnymoon for Two."

The breadth of material allowed Holloway to demonstrate several lessons well learned as he adjusted his rhythmic attack and harmonic vocabulary to suit the mood of each piece.

As he moved through the insinuating Henderson anthem, the bluesy Turrentine theme and the vibrant Rollins classic, Holloway fashioned a colorful triptych worthy of the musicians he was saluting. During these and other performances, Holloway's own tenor traits were evident as well: the confident, robust tone; the keening high- register flourishes; the whimsical pop quotations.

A warmly evocative reprise of "Stars Fell on Alabama" -- which the reedman dedicated to his father, who was seated in the audience -- provided yet another view of Holloway's talent, its Southern allure stemming from unfussy, old-fashioned lyricism.

Holloway had plenty of support. Trumpeter Tom Williams frequently acted as a nimble foil -- that is, when he wasn't fashioning a series of crisp and distinctive solos. Pianist Harry Appelman generated lots of tart harmonies, while bassist Tommy Cecil and drummer Marty Morrison alertly focused the rhythm section's sensitivity and drive.

-- Mike Joyce

Copyright 2001 The Washington Post