Today with an abundance of jazz recordings being released, Dave Goldberg’s “The Other Side”, reminds us of the importance of strong melodies and catchy rhythmic grooves. The new album consists of nine originals and one standard, which present a nice diverse set of music running the gambit from high energy aggressive modern jazz to soulful funk to relaxed Latin grooves to beautiful ballads. This is how Dave Goldberg likes to call a set when performing live and since jazz is best recorded live in one take, that carries over into the studio. Swinging and unpredictable, “The Other Side” takes listeners on a journey that will hold their attention with strong melodies that desire for repeated listening.
Dave Goldberg’s most recent album, “The Other Side”, features him in a trio with organist Joe Bagg and drummer Adam Nussbaum. The opener, “A Familiar Something” answers the question of what would happen if the John Coltrane Quartet met The Doors. Pure energy, the opening track punches the listener in the mouth and demands attention. The most funky tune of the session however is the title track, “The Other Side”. Knowing the history of the Hammond B3 organ trio in the realm of 1960’s soul jazz, Goldberg pays tribute to those grooves with his own original tune. Upon listening to the title track, jazz historian Scott Yanow declared it “an infectious blues with a catchy rhythm.” Switching gears completely Goldberg covers the timeless ballad “Danny Boy”. By adding new harmonies to such a beautiful well known melody and presenting it in an honest heartfelt trio setting with sax, organ, and drums; it’s hard to keep a dry eye when listening, and what was old becomes new again.
The results of Goldberg, Bagg, and Nussbaum coming together to explore such diverse music, creates a high-quality set of modern jazz that invigorates the traditional organ trio. With other gems to be discovered on this recording, Dave Goldberg believes “The Other Side” is his finest work to date and looks forward to sharing it with the jazz community and music lovers everywhere in 2023.
About Dave: Tenor and soprano saxophonist Dave Goldberg, who has been based through the years in South Florida, New York City, and Los Angeles, is a modern hard bop player with his own sound and a forward-looking and adventurous style. Along the way he has worked with such notables as Ira Sullivan, Freddie Hubbard, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Larry Coryell to name a few, but most importantly he has led an impressive string of releases for the Tritone label. He has also been featured in various jazz magazines and publications. A recent review in Jazz Times Magazine had this to say about him…”Goldberg, displays a strong and assured tone and a maturity of style, rooted in swinging mainstream modern jazz.”
Dave Goldberg – The Other Side
Review by Scott Yanow
Tenor and soprano saxophonist Dave Goldberg, who has been based through the years in South Florida, New York City, and Los Angeles, is a modern hard bop player with his own sound and a forward-looking and adventurous style. Along the way he has worked with such notables as Ira Sullivan, Freddie Hubbard, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Larry Coryell to name a few, but most importantly he has led an impressive string of releases for the Tritone label.
Goldberg’s most recent album, The Other Side, features him in a trio with organist Joe Bagg and drummer Adam Nussbaum. The group performs nine of the leader’s originals plus the standard “Danny Boy.” The opener, “A Familiar Something,” is a jazz waltz with original chord changes, serving as a fine introduction to the group’s sound and their swinging but unpredictable style. “Huge Strides” sounds like a piece that John Coltrane could have played although, despite its title, it is not a relative of “Giant Steps.” Goldberg handles the complex chord changes with ease. “The Other Side” offers a bit of a contrast, an infectious blues with a catchy rhythm that is heard throughout; Goldberg builds up his solo quite well. Another mood is displayed on a slow and warm version of the timeless ballad “Danny Boy.”
Among the highlights of the remainder of the set are the quirky “Than You Very Monk” which hints at a few Thelonious Monk songs (most notably “Epistrophy”), a heartfelt rendition of the ballad “Letting Go,” Goldberg’s uptempo showcase on soprano “Lineage”, and the mysterious theme of “Surrealtiy.” “Diminished Returns” and the relaxed “Last Stop” wrap up the enjoyable program.
Throughout the date, Dave Goldberg plays with confidence and constant creativity, Joe Bagg offers orchestral accompaniment (one never misses the bass) and concise solos that are always stimulating, and Adam Nussbaum is tasteful and quietly swinging in support of the lead voices. The results are a high-quality set of modern jazz that invigorates the traditional organ trio.
Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/historian
CREDITS
Dave Goldberg – The Other Side – Credits
List of Tunes
- A Familiar Something (7:28)
- Huge Strides (5:45)
- The Other Side (6:10)
- Danny Boy (5:17)
- Thank You Very Monk (7:53)
- Letting Go (8:08)
- Lineage (5:45)
- Surreality (5:17)
- Diminished Returns (5:21)
- Last Stop (6:23)
All Compositions by Dave Goldberg (Dave Goldberg Music BMI) except Danny Boy (traditional) arranged by Dave Goldberg
Dave Goldberg – tenor saxophone and soprano saxophone on Lineage
Joe Bagg – Hammond B-3 Organ
Adam Nussbaum – drums
Recorded: September 20th and 21st, 2022 at No-Sound Studio, Pasadena, CA
Engineered by: Nolan Shaheed
Mixed & Mastered at: NO-Sound Studio by Nolan Shaheed
Art Direction: Stephanie Han
Photography: Lainey Goldberg, Nolan Shaheed
Adam Nussbaum would like to thank: Sonar, Zildjian, Evans, DW, Canopus, Gator, HeadHunters, Qsticks, Zoom & BT
Joe Bagg endorses Viscount Legend OrgansDave Goldberg endorses whoever made his 1962 Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone and vintage Otto Link Mouthpiece. He is also currently playing The Boston Sax Shop Reeds.