Ervin Booker – Structurally Sound (Blue Note Tone Poet)

Booker Ervin's Structurally Sound captures the tenor saxophonist in 1966, just after his return to the U.S. from two years living in Barcelona and working around Europe. Best known for his work with Charles Mingus, Ervin leads a sharply chosen quintet here, and the record stands as one of his strongest statements as a bandleader. It was originally cut for Pacific Jazz, with a program that balances Ervin and Charles Tolliver originals against standards and modern jazz staples.

What makes the album especially appealing is the way Ervin's forceful, unmistakable tone meets material that is more varied than a typical hard-bop blowing date. The band includes Tolliver on trumpet, John Hicks on piano, Red Mitchell on bass, and Lenny McBrowne on drums, and they bring real character to pieces like Ervin's bluesy "Boo's Blues," Tolliver's "Franess," and Oliver Nelson's "Stolen Moments." Standards such as "Dancing in the Dark" and "You're My Everything" also give Ervin room to show how much personality he could draw from familiar songbook material.

This Tone Poet edition also matters because it brings a lesser-circulated Booker Ervin title into Blue Note's audiophile reissue line. For anyone who knows Ervin mainly through his Mingus appearances or his better-known 1960s sessions, Structurally Sound is a rewarding reminder of how commanding he was at the front of a small group.

Features

• LP, 180g, Stereo, Blue Note Tone Poet Series
• Mastered from the original analog tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
• Produced by Joe Harley
• Pressed at RTI
• Deluxe tip-on gatefold jacket