SMOOTH REVIEW – OCT 1996 (Condensed)
After quite a few years’ worth of contemporary light jazz releases, drum legend Alphonse Mouzon has returned to his high energy acoustic jazz roots. The Night Is Still Young, his latest release on his own ‘Tenacious’ record label is a mixed bag. The first half of the album is a powerful acoustic romp through five Mouzon originals. Featured players are Sal Marquez on trumpet, Tony Dumas on bass and a trio of fine saxophonists: Ernie Watts, Ralph Moore, and Eric Marienthal with Mouzon overdubbing keyboards on all tracks. It’s quite a pleasure to hear the drummer dig in and swing, not only with power, but with great feeling and sensitivity.
“To Drum Or Not To Drum” is a short drum feature with Mouzon pulling out all the fusion stops. This is a passionate drum solo that finds him using the same 18″ bass drum that he used twenty-five years ago with Weather Report and McCoy Tyner.
The rest of the album will please all of his contemporary jazz fans with Mouzon playing all of the instruments with help from saxophonist Gerald Albright. All-in-all, something for all of his fans and a good starting point for those unfamiliar with this multi-talented percussionist.
DOWN BEAT – OCT 1996 (Condensed)
The Night Is Still Young, the South Carolina native’s latest release on his own Tenacious Records, achieve the perfect balance between the hard-hitting Mouzon of old and the romantic family man who enjoys sitting at the grand piano.
While handling most of the playing duties using either live instruments or synth samples, Mouzon also defers to the likes of trumpeter Sal Marquez, upright bassist Tony Dumas and sax men Ernie Watts, Gerald Albright, Eric Marienthal and Ralph Moore to create a multi-faceted collection that is part mainstream, part contemporary, a little world beat and all swinging.
MODERN DRUMMER – DEC 1996
Alphonse Mouzon shows his goods on his own label’s release, The Night Is Still Young, featuring his powerful straight-ahead playing as well as his funkier pop/jazz leanings.
THE URBAN NETWORK – MAY 17, 1996
Drummer Alphonse Mouzon gets serious with his new CD The Night Is Still Young on his own Tenacious Records label. Splitting the 13-song album between swingin’ straight ahead jams and contemporary sounds, Mouzon downshifts into hellacious, shuffling action on the opener “Protocol” featuring Ernie Watts on sax, Sal Marquez on trumpet and Tony Dumas on bass. Other highlights of the first half are the cool papa creeper “Daddy’s Blues” and the 2-minute solo piece “To Drum Or Not To Drum.” The latter half of the album is light, melodic toe-tappers on which Mouzon played all or most of the instruments himself, highlighted by the Quiet Storm-friendly “Seduction” featuring Gerald Albright on sax.
