''The Natural Moment'' is a studio album by

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

alto saxophonist

Christopher Hollyday Christopher Hollyday is a jazz alto saxophonist. Biography Hollyday began playing the saxophone at the age of nine.Jarvey, Paul (June 21, 1990) "Hollyday Races onto Jazz Stage at Early Age". ''Telegram & Gazette''. p. D1. He grew up in a musical fa ...

Background

This was alto saxophonist Christopher Hollyday's third album.Fuller, Jack (August 11, 1991
"The Natural Moment (Christopher Hollyday, Novus)"
''Chicago Tribune''. It was pianist

Brad Mehldau Bradford Alexander Mehldau (; born August 23, 1970) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Mehldau studied music at The New School, and toured and recorded while still a student. He was a member of saxophonist Joshua Redman's Quar ...

's first recording.Nicholson, Stuart (September 19, 1999) "Some Call It Plagiarism. In Brad Mehldau's Hands, It's Sheer Genius". ''The Observer''. p. D8.

Music and recording

The album was recorded in January 1991. Hollyday "performs five of his driving originals and a song apiece from Peter Bernstein,

Walter Davis Jr. Walter Davis Jr. (September 2, 1932 – June 2, 1990) was an American bebop and hard bop pianist. Davis once left the music world to be a tailor, but returned. A soloist, bandleader, and accompanist, he amassed a body of work while never be ...

John Webber John Webber (6 October 1751 – 29 May 1793) was an English artist who accompanied Captain Cook on his third Pacific expedition. He is best known for his images of Australasia, Hawaii and Alaska. Biography Webber was born in London, educated ...

, and

Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film. Born to ...

Release and reception

''The Natural Moment'' was released by RCA Novus. The ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...

'' reviewer commented that Hollyday's album "represents a musical advance over his second and almost justifies the attention given his first". ''

The Penguin Guide to Jazz ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' is a reference work containing an encyclopedic directory of jazz recordings on CD which were (at the time of publication) currently available in Europe or the United States. The first nine editions were compiled by ...

'' wrote that "the music seems over-intense, as if Hollyday were reacting to the usual charges of neo-conservatism by trying to prove how impolite he can be".

Track listing

#"Scorpio Rising" – 7:42 #"Had to Be Brad" – 4:34 #"All New Meaning" – 2:45 #"Point of Delirium" – 6:15 #"Every Time We Say Goodbye" – 6:04 #"Johnny Red" – 7:48 #"Afterglow" – 5:23 #"Idleism" – 4:57 #"The Natural Moment" – 5:32

Personnel

– alto sax *

– piano *

– bass * Ron Savage – drums

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Natural Moment 1991 albums Jazz albums by American artists