''The Real Thing'' is an album by tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander. It was recorded in 2015 and released by

HighNote Records HighNote Records is a jazz record company and label founded by Joe Fields with his son, Barney Fields, in 1997. Joe Fields worked for Prestige Records in the 1960s, and in the 1970s founded Muse Records. After he sold Muse, he started the Hig ...

Recording and music

The album was recorded at the

Van Gelder Studio The Van Gelder Studio is a recording studio at 445 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, United States. Following the use of his parents' home at 25 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey, for the original studio, Rudy Van Gelder (1924– ...

, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, on April 2, 2015.Alexander, Eric "The Real Thing" (CD liner notes). HighNote Records. HCD 7278. Most tracks are played by the quartet of tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, pianist

Harold Mabern Harold Mabern Jr. (March 20, 1936 – September 17, 2019) was an American jazz pianist and composer, principally in the hard bop, post-bop, and soul jazz fields.Feather, Leonard; Gitler, Ira (2007) ''The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz''. p. 42 ...

, bassist

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 drummer

Joe Farnsworth Joseph Allen Farnsworth (born February 21, 1968, Holyoke, Massachusetts) is an American jazz drummer. Farnsworth was one of five sons born to trumpeter and bandleader Roger Farnsworth; one of the brothers played saxophone in Ray Charles Ra ...

.Joyce, Mike (November 10, 2015
"Eric Alexander: The Real Thing"
''JazzTimes''. Guitarist

Pat Martino Pat Martino (born Patrick Carmen Azzara; August 25, 1944 – November 1, 2021) was an American jazz guitarist and composer. Biography Martino was born Patrick Carmen Azzara in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, to father Carmen "Mickey" ...

is added for three tracks. Alexander also produced the album.

Release and reception

''The Real Thing'' was released by

. The ''

Down Beat ' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chi ...

'' reviewer concluded that, "The prolific saxophonist, who claims almost 40 records to his name, has matured to the point where even a not-entirely-satisfying effort like this is still worth returning to."

Track listing

#"The Real Thing" #"Pure Pat" #"Summertime" #"The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" #"Little Boat" #"For George and Trane" #"Sleep Warm" #"The Chief"

Personnel

* Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone *

– guitar (tracks 2, 3, 8) *

– piano *

– bass *

– drums

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Real Thing 2015 albums Eric Alexander (jazz saxophonist) albums HighNote Records albums