| Friendly Fire: Live at Smoke | ||||
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| Live album by | ||||
| Released | April 2, 2012 | |||
| Recorded | August 19–20, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, NYC | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 62:44 | |||
| Label | HighNote | |||
| Producer | Vincent Herring, Eric Alexander | |||
| Eric Alexander chronology | ||||
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| Vincent Herring chronology | ||||
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Friendly Fire: Live at Smoke is an album by saxophonists Eric Alexander and Vincent Herring, which was recorded in 2011 and released the following year on the HighNote label. [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [2] |
| All About Jazz | [3] |
| Jazzwise | [4] |
AllMusic reviewed the album stating "tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander and alto saxophonist Vincent Herring join in this tradition with a swinging, passionate set of standards recorded live at the respected N.Y.C. venue ... This is a lively and exciting session of adventurous and old-school straight-ahead jazz". [2] Jazzwise said "If you're into hard-swinging 'live' jazz performed by master musicians, rooted in the tradition but modern-minded, in front of an enthusiastic club audience, you'll find it hard to come up with a better current CD than this ... Of its kind, this is as good as it gets". [4] On All About Jazz Jack Bowers noted "Not only are Alexander and Herring carrying on the tradition, they are among the most resourceful and enterprising saxophonists on the scene today. Alexander has yet to sculpt a solo that is less than persuasive, while Herring is irrepressibly candid in the manner of one of his main influences, the great Cannonball Adderley ... While this live session may awaken memories of days gone by, it's as stylish and inventive as today". [3]
Henry Mobley was an American tenor saxophonist and composer. Mobley was described by Leonard Feather as the "middleweight champion of the tenor saxophone", a metaphor used to describe his tone, that was neither as aggressive as John Coltrane nor as mellow as Lester Young, and his style that was laid-back, subtle and melodic, especially in contrast with players such as Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. The critic Stacia Proefrock claimed him "one of the most underrated musicians of the bop era." Mobley's compositions include "Double Exposure", "Soul Station", and "Dig Dis".
John Arnold Griffin III was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of his death. A pioneering figure in hard bop, Griffin recorded prolifically as a bandleader in addition to stints with pianist Thelonious Monk, drummer Art Blakey, in partnership with fellow tenor Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and as a member of the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band after he moved to Europe in the 1960s. In 1995, Griffin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.
Eric Alexander is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator. Having placed second at the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition behind Joshua Redman and ahead of Chris Potter and Tim Warfield, he was soon signed by a record label and has since recorded over 20 albums as a leader and over 300 as a sideman.
Vincent Dwyne Herring is an American jazz saxophonist, flautist, composer, and educator. Known for his fiery and soulful playing in the bands of Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, and Nat Adderley in the earlier stages of his career, he now frequently performs around the world with his own groups and is heavily involved in jazz education.
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Hi Voltage is an album by jazz tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley recorded on October 9, 1967 and released on the Blue Note label the following year. It features performances by Mobley with alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, trumpeter Blue Mitchell, pianist John Hicks, drummer Billy Higgins, and bassist Bob Cranshaw.
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Reach Out! is an album by jazz saxophonist Hank Mobley recorded and released by the Blue Note label in 1968. It features performances by Mobley with trumpeter Woody Shaw, guitarist George Benson, pianist LaMont Johnson, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and drummer Billy Higgins.
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Breakthrough! is an album by the Cedar Walton/Hank Mobley Quintet recorded on February 22, 1972, originally released on the short-lived Cobblestone label and later reissued on Muse. It features performances by Mobley and Walton with baritone saxophonist Charles Davis, bassist Sam Jones, and Mobley’s longtime drummer Billy Higgins. This was Mobley's final studio recording before retiring due to health issues.
Blue Notes is an album by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges and orchestra featuring performances recorded in 1966 and released on the Verve label.
Dead Center is an album by tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander. It was recorded in 2004 and released by HighNote Records.
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Payne's Window is an album by the American jazz saxophonist/flautist Cecil Payne recorded in 1998 and released by the Delmark label the following year.
Monday Night at Birdland is a live album which was recorded at Birdland in 1958 by tenor saxophonists Hank Mobley and Billy Root, trombonists Kai Winding and Curtis Fuller, and trumpeter Lee Morgan. It was first released by the Roulette label. Symphony Sid wrote the liner notes.
Another Monday Night at Birdland is a live album which was recorded at Birdland in 1958 by tenor saxophonists Hank Mobley and Billy Root, trombonist Curtis Fuller, and trumpeter Lee Morgan. It was released by the Roulette label.
The Battle: Live at Smoke is an album by saxophonists Vincent Herring and Eric Alexander which was recorded in 2005 and released on the Highnote label.
Preaching to the Choir is an album by saxophonist Vincent Herring, which was recorded in 2020 and released the following year on the Smoke Sessions label.
The Uptown Shuffle is an album by saxophonist Vincent Herring, which was recorded in 2013 and released the following year on the Smoke Sessions label.
Night and Day is an album by saxophonist Vincent Herring, which was recorded in 2014 and released the following year on the Smoke Sessions label.