| Jazz |
A Promising Start to 2025: Tenor Madness and the Year in Jazz Albums
The year 2025 already holds great promise for jazz enthusiasts, judging by the few albums we’ve received so far. Among them, Tenor Madness stands out as a brilliant showcase of exceptional talent. This remarkable ensemble features Steve Patrick, Tyler Jaeger, Jeff Bailey, and Olivia Achcet (trumpets), Jonathan Salcedo, Roy Agee, and Sarah Morrow (trombones), Martin McCain and Liam Barron (bass trombones), Lindsey Miller (guitar), Pat Coil (piano), Jake Jezioro (double bass), and Marc Widenhofer (drums).
At the helm of this project, Ryan Middagh demonstrates his genius as an arranger, crafting a framework that allows each musician’s personality to shine fully.
While Tenor Madness pays homage to the saxophone, it transcends mere tribute. The album revisits jazz history, conjuring luminous club atmospheres and even a touch of Hollywood glamor. It’s a widescreen cinematic masterpiece—perfectly danceable for connoisseurs and equally mesmerizing for attentive listeners. The musicians’ work is breathtaking, the arrangements majestic, and the jazz presented here spans the genre’s full expressive range. It’s a celebration of everything we love about jazz.
The title Tenor Madness is both simple and profoundly evocative. Referencing one of the most legendary albums in jazz history—a meeting of two saxophone giants—Middagh firmly grounds his work within the genre’s grand tradition. The title sets the tone: this album celebrates the saxophone with a mastery and creativity worthy of jazz’s greatest classics. The lineup alone promises an extraordinary experience, featuring alto saxophonists Alex Graham and Jovan Quallo; tenor saxophonists Jeff Coffin, Don Aliquo, and Joel Frahm; Kevin Shinskie on alto and tenor sax; and baritone saxophonists Jimmy Bowland and Ryan Middagh himself.
While past albums boasting star-studded casts have occasionally disappointed, this is decidedly not the case here. Even the inclusion of Cry Me a River—a piece often overplayed or mishandled—proves a triumph. Vocalist Jenna McLean delivers a stunning, intelligent interpretation that revitalizes the classic. Her performance, supported by this dream team of musicians, blends a modern sensibility with impeccable technique. For those unfamiliar with her work, her website is worth a visit—it’s a treasure trove of contemporary vocal jazz artistry.
Jazz history reminds us that the greatest arrangers write for their musicians, incorporating the unique voices of their ensembles into unforgettable works. Legends like Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, and Gil Evans set the standard, showcasing the individuality of each instrumentalist. Ryan Middagh follows in their footsteps. A baritone saxophonist, composer, and arranger based in Nashville, Middagh has earned acclaim for his ability to highlight the singular strengths of his collaborators. After the success of his debut big band album, Live From Nashville, Middagh returns to the studio with a clear mission: to spotlight his musicians.
Tenor Madness is his latest endeavor—a love letter to the saxophone and the talented players of Nashville’s jazz scene. With this album, Middagh solidifies his place in the lineage of great jazz composers and arrangers.
This dazzling album, rich in vision and artistry, takes its rightful place among the “Essential Albums” of 2025.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, December 27th 2024
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