Benny Sharoni
Eternal Elixir
Papaya Records
www.bennysharoni.com
By George W. Harris

Here’s a tenor player after my own heart. He’s a rookie, yet has a nice thick tone similar to Sonny Rollins. He delivers a disc that has that classic hard bop feel akin to the Jazz Messengers and Horace Silver’s quintets; heavy on clever melody’s, gospel and latin grooves, and with solos from everyone involved that keep the feeling moving forward. Along with Barry Ries/tp, Joe barbato-Kyle Aho/p, Mike Mele/g, Todd Baker/b, and Steve Langone/dr, he mixes originals with 60s pop and standards in a highly attractive way. His own “Senor papaya” and “Benito’s Bossa Bonita” contain some infectious grooves as a underlying layer for Sharoni’s meaty horn and Rie’s wistful trumpet to state their cases. Cooking takes of Donald Byrd’s “Pentecostal Feelin’” and “To Life” from Fiddler On The Roof will get you to the front row of the church or synagogue in seconds flat, while the rich and passionate “Estate” sweats with feeling. Like this guy a lot. Get him out to LA!