Chad Lefkowitz-Brown's 2017 take on Sonny Rollins's "Doxy" from the Standard Sessions project presents this beloved hard bop classic in a relaxed, medium-tempo swing setting at approximately 120 BPM. Composed by Rollins and based on the chord progression of "Ja-Da," "Doxy" follows a compact 16-bar AABA form in B-flat and has been a jam session staple since its debut on the 1954 album Bags' Groove with the Miles Davis Quintet. Lefkowitz-Brown delivers three soulful choruses on tenor saxophone, taking advantage of the tune's bluesy harmonic framework to craft melodic lines that nod to Rollins's own muscular approach while maintaining a personal voice. Pianist Manuel Valera contributes three engaging choruses that explore the tune's rhythmic possibilities, and bassist Ben Tiberio rounds out the solo section with a single chorus of acoustic bass improvisation. The laid-back groove and shorter form invite a more relaxed, conversational style of improvisation, and the trio responds with performances that are both swinging and steeped in the hard bop tradition that gave birth to this enduring composition.
