''Afro Straight'' is an album by saxophonist

Ernest Dawkins Ernest Dawkins (born 2 November 1953 in Chicago, Illinois, United States) is an American jazz saxophonist, principally active in free jazz and post-bop. Ernest Khabeer Dawkins was a neighbor of Anthony Braxton as a child. He played bass and dru ...

. It was recorded during October 2010 and April 2012, and was released in 2012 by Delmark Records. On the album, which features eight jazz standards and two original compositions, Dawkins is joined by trumpeter Corey Wilkes, pianist Willerm Delisfort, organist

Ben Paterson Ben Paterson (born June 23, 1982) is an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, and Steinway Artist. Early life Paterson graduated from the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia after having spent his earlier years studying classical as w ...

, bassist Junius Paul, drummer Isaiah Spencer, and percussionists Ruben Alvarez, Greg Carmouche, and Greg Penn.

Reception

In a review for '' All About Jazz'', Mark Corroto wrote: "''Afro Straight'' is Saturday music. That day following a work week where you take off your suit and tie or uniform, and put on that favorite sweatshirt and pair of jeans to kick back and relax in the familiar confines of your home. The familiar is your solace, and saxophonist Ernest Dawkins delivering time-honored standards is the equivalent of comfort food for the ears." John Garratt of ''

PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...

'' stated: "''Afro Straight'' is so much more than a standard album of standards. Yes, he has the same racehorses running around his track... But he has fresh jockeys this time, and it makes for quite a good album." Writing for ''Point of Departure'', Troy Collins commented: "Dawkins' searing tone and quicksilver phrasing imbues the session with bold lyricism, whether the material is ballads, blues or bop classics... While it's not as conceptually daring as his albums with the New Horizons Ensemble or Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, the aptly-titled ''Afro Straight'' is nonetheless one of Dawkins' most enjoyable recordings." In an article for '' JazzTimes'', David Whiteis praised "Dawkins' gift for imbuing even his most outward-bound flights with a gritty swagger that invokes his city's hard-swinging heritage," and remarked: "Only occasionally... does Dawkins really stoke the engines and set his sights on more distant realms. Yet he and his compatriots... discover plenty of sparkling new beauty within the relatively conventional frameworks they've established here."

Track listing

# "

Mr. P.C. "Mr. P.C." is a twelve-bar jazz piece in minor blues form, composed by John Coltrane in 1959. The song is named in tribute to the bass player Paul Chambers, who had accompanied Coltrane for years. It first appeared on the album ''Giant Steps'' ...

" ( John Coltrane) – 6:47 # "United" (

Wayne Shorter Wayne Shorter (born August 25, 1933) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Shorter came to prominence in the late 1950s as a member of, and eventually primary composer for, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In the 1960s, he joined Miles Davi ...

) – 7:57 # "Afro Straight" (Ernest Dawkins) – 1:33 # " Central Park West" (John Coltrane) – 7:53 # "

Woody 'n' You "Woody 'n' You", is a 1942 jazz standard written by Dizzy Gillespie as an homage to Woody Herman. It was one of three arrangements Gillespie made for Herman's big band, although it was not used at the time; the other two were "Swing Shift" and "Down ...

" (

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but addi ...

) – 4:30 # " Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" ( Sigmund Romberg,

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in the musical theater for almost 40 years. He won eight Ton ...

) – 8:13 # " God Bless the Child" (

Billie Holiday Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop si ...

, Arthur Herzog Jr.) – 4:54 # " Footprints" (Wayne Shorter) – 8:23 # "Old Man Blues" (Ernest Dawkins) – 7:12 # "Juju" (Wayne Shorter) – 9:52

Personnel

– alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, percussion * Corey Wilkes – trumpet * Willerm Delisfort – piano *

– organ * Junius Paul – bass * Isaiah Spencer – drums * Ruben Alvarez – congas, bongos, chimes, shaker (tracks 3, 4, 8) * Greg Carmouche – congas (tracks 1, 6) * Greg Penn – congas (tracks 3, 10)

References

{{authority control 2012 albums Ernest Dawkins albums Delmark Records albums