Ronnie Cuber & Gary Smulyan - Tough Baritones

Cuber and Smulyan, two of the leading exponents of this weighty member of the saxophone family meet here for the first time showcasing their combined feat of baritone sax playing in modern jazz.

Ronnie Cuber (b. 1941) has for more than the past half century been one of the most important soloists of this instrument. Gary Smulyan (b. 1956), the multiple award-winner of numerous jazz polls as the baritone saxophonist of the year has been particularly acclaimed for his witty contrafact compositions and performances.

A monstrous date and one of the best for all aboard. Certainly one of Cuber's best. - Cadence (on 'Straight Street' SCCD31860)

While Cuber's approach here is resolutely modern, much of album serves the same function as the organ-jazz idiom did 50 years ago: to rock a club with the same kind of backbone as a much larger band. - Aaron Cohen, DownBeat (on 'Four' SCCD31882)

His passionate sound and fresh ideas make Alternative Contrafacts a set well worth picking up, particularly by straight-ahead jazz collectors. - Scott Yanow, The New York City Jazz Record (on 'Alternative Contrafacts' SCCD31844)

Personnel: Ronnie Cuber, Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone), Gary Versace (piano), Jay Anderson (bass), Jason Tiemann (drums).