| The Opening Round | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 1, 1997 | |||
| Recorded | February 5, 1997 | |||
| Studio | Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 55:20 | |||
| Label | Savant SCD 2005 | |||
| Producer | Houston Person | |||
| Houston Person chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Opening Round, subtitled The Groove Masters Series Vol. 1 is an album by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in 1997 and released on the Savant label. [1] [2] [3]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [4] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [5] |
In his review on Allmusic, Stewart Mason states "A fun and personable mix of jazz and soul classics plus a couple of originals by guitarist Rodney Jones, Houston Person's The Opening Round: Groove Masters Series, Vol. 1 isn't a jazz album for the ages, but it's start-to-finish entertaining. It's a straight-up groove album, with Person in front of a four-piece organ combo". [4] In JazzTimes, Stanley Dance wrote: "Person’s thick, unmannered tone, love of melody and swing, together give his music an odd sobriety that he seems compelled to relieve with fast flurries of notes". [6]
Houston Person is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He received the Eubie Blake Jazz Award in 1982.
Bernard Lee "Pretty" Purdie is an American drummer, and an influential R&B, soul and funk musician. He is known for his precise musical time keeping and his signature use of triplets against a half-time backbeat: the "Purdie Shuffle." He was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2013.
Cecil Brooks III is an American jazz drummer and record producer who has worked with Arthur Blythe, Russell Gunn, John Hicks, Andrew Hill, Etta Jones, Roseanna Vitro, Marvin Peterson, and Jimmy Ponder.
Rodney Jones is a jazz guitarist who worked with Jaki Byard, Chico Hamilton, Dizzy Gillespie, and Lena Horne and as a bandleader. He is cited as a jazz guitarist who uses modern quartal harmony. Jones is a faculty member at Juilliard.
Trust in Me is the third album led by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in 1967 and released on the Prestige label.
Goodness! is the sixth album led by saxophonist Houston Person, which was recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.
Person-ified is an album by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in late 1996 and released on the HighNote label the following year.
Soft Lights is an album by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in 1999 and released on the HighNote label.
Dialogues is an album by saxophonist Houston Person and bassist Ron Carter recorded in 2000 and released on the HighNote label in 2002.
Blue Velvet is an album by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in 2001 and released on the HighNote label.
Sentimental Journey is an album by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in 2002 and released on the HighNote label.
To Etta with Love is an album by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in 2004 and released on the HighNote label. The album is a tribute to Person's musical partner Etta Jones.
All Soul is an album by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in 2005 and released on the HighNote label.
You Taught My Heart to Sing is an album by saxophonist Houston Person and pianist Bill Charlap recorded in 2004 and released on the HighNote label in 2006.
Thinking of You is an album by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in 2007 and released on the HighNote label.
Rain or Shine is an album by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in 2017 and released on the HighNote label.
Straight Up is an album by organist Jimmy McGriff recorded in 1998 and released on the Milestone label.
McGriff's House Party is an album by organist Jimmy McGriff recorded in 1999 and released on the Milestone label the following year.
McGriff Avenue is an album by organist Jimmy McGriff recorded in 2001 and released on the Milestone label the following year.
The Dream Team is an album by organist Jimmy McGriff recorded in 1996 and released on the Milestone label the following year.