3 1/2 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE

“…a display of remarkable chemistry and incendiary blowing…together they kill.”
- Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes

In 1999 Saxophonist Eli Degibri was recruited by Herbie Hancock to play with the Herbie Hancock Sextet. Eli spent two and a half years on the road with the Grammy award winning master, and then moved on to lead his own ensembles in New York and around the world. Degibri also regularly performs with legendary drummer Al Foster. On this recording, Eli leads his partners-in-crime Gary Versace (Maria Schneider, Matt Wilson) on Organ and Obed Calvaire (Peter Cincotti, Lizz Wright) on Drums in one of the most energetic, soulful sessions in recent memory. The recording documents two nights of live, fiery performances at New York’s Louis 649. Degibri’s lyrical originals provide this bass-less ensemble ample room to experiment, challenge and excite. Tried and true classics such as Cole Porter’s Every Time We Say Goodbye and Cahn & Styne’s I Fall In Love Too Easily receive daring, fresh and feisty treatments.

PERSONNEL:

ELI DEGIBRI - soprano & tenorsax
GARY VERSACE - organ
OBED CALVAIRE - drums