The Opening Round, subtitled The Groove Masters Series Vol. 1 is an album by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in 1997 and released on the Savant label.Jazz Depot: Savant discography accessed March 7, 2018Payne, D. Houston Person Discography accessed March 7, 2018Enciclopedia del Jazz: Houston Person accessed March 12, 2018
Reception
In his review on Allmusic, Stewart Mason states "A fun and personable mix of jazz and soul classics plus a couple of originals by guitarist Rodney Jones, Houston Person's The Opening Round: Groove Masters Series, Vol. 1 isn't a jazz album for the ages, but it's start-to-finish entertaining. It's a straight-up groove album, with Person in front of a four-piece organ combo". In JazzTimes, Stanley Dance wrote: "Person’s thick, unmannered tone, love of melody and swing, together give his music an odd sobriety that he seems compelled to relieve with fast flurries of notes".Dance, S. JazzTimes Review, accessed March 7, 2018
Track listing "Sweet Sucker" (Johnny Griffin) – 1:27 "Let's Stay Together" (Al Green, Al Jackson Jr., Willie Mitchell) – 3:56 "Can't Help Lovin' That Man" (Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II) – 4:06 "What's Going On?" (Marvin Gaye, Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland) – 2:32 "When a Man Loves a Woman" (Calvin Lewis, Andrew Wright) – 3:41 "Blue Spring" (Rodney Jones) – 4:35 "Song for a Rainbow" (Jones) – 3:57 "Shenandoah" (Traditional) – 4:55
Personnel Houston Person – tenor saxophone Joey DeFrancesco – Hammond B3 organ Rodney Jones – guitar Tracy Wormworth – electric bass Bernard Purdie – drums
References