Personfication of Genuis
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Well on his way to doctorate in computer science at Stanford, Schwartz perhaps heard the voices of the departed jazz legends exhorting him to pick up his horn and play.
He readily heeded the creative call several years ago, and after listening to "The Slow Lane" (AntonJazz), I wish Schwartz had departed on his musical mission much sooner. There have been many young tenor saxophone players before Schwartz, but very few have his naturalness, his musical presence and command of the instrument.
It is easy to hear the influences of John Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins, Wayne Shorter and even King Curtis in his playing. But comparisons aside, make no mistake, Schwartz stands on his own horn. He does a superb treatment of the Benny Golson tune titled "Along Came Better" and sends shivers up the spine with his work on the tender Billy Strayhorn classic "Chelsea Bridge." But its Schwartz's sassy treatment of moody "Peace Dollar" that establishes the musical thread for this foray into creative expression. Don't fight the groove.
Donald V. Adderton is editor of the Delta Democrat Times. You can contact him by mail at 988 N. Broadway, Greenville, MS 38701, telephone (662) 335-1155, or e-mail donald_adderton@link.freedom.com.