About
Matt Zebley takes two choruses of alto saxophone on his original ballad "New York Calling" at approximately 58 BPM, a slow, intimate setting from Live at Moondog. The 16-bar form in D-flat provides a spacious environment for unhurried improvisation, and Zebley's solo unfolds with lyrical tenderness, his warm tone and singing phrasing suggesting the emotional weight the city holds for aspiring jazz musicians. As the first of two soloists, his two-chorus statement establishes a personal, almost confessional tone that contrasts effectively with the fuller ensemble sound heard on other selections from the album. The compact 16-bar form encourages concise melodic statements where each phrase carries considerable weight.
Matt Zebley was 26 to 27 years old at the time.
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