Ron Holloway – Struttin'

Personnel: Ron Holloway (tenor & baritone saxophones); Seema "Simone" Sugandh (vocals); Chris Battistone (trumpet); Mac Gollehon (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Bell (wooden flute, sitar); Kenny Barron, Larry Willis (piano); Dr. Lonnie Smith (Hammond B-3 organ); John Scofield, Marlon Graves, Paul Bollenback, Ray Tilkens (guitar); David Williams (bass); La'Nar Brantley, Gary Grainger (electric bass); Victor Lewis, Scott Peaker (drums); Steve Berrios (drums, percussion); Broto Roy (tablas).
Producers: Todd Barkan (tracks 1-8); Ron Holloway (track 9).
Engineers: Mike Krowiak (tracks 1-8); Ray Tilkens (track 9).
Recorded at Hit Factory, New York and Ambient Recording, Beltsville, Maryland from February to April 1995. Includes liner notes by Jon W. Poses.
Audio Mixer: Michael Semanick.
Liner Note Author: Jon W. Poses.
Recording information: Ambient Studios, Beltsville, MD (02/1995-04/1995); Hit Factory Studios, New York, NY (02/1995-04/1995).
Photographers: Steve Maruta; Frank Lindner.
Unknown Contributor Roles: David Williams ; Kenny Barron; Larry Willis; Dr. Lonnie Smith ; Mac Gollehon; Ron Holloway; Steve Berrios; Victor Lewis; John Scofield.
Arrangers: Larry Willis; Dr. Lonnie Smith ; Ron Holloway; Steve Berrios; Victor Lewis.
Although Ron Holloway's second album contains fewer original compositions than his debut (only one, the wiry, Indian-influenced funk "Cobra," as opposed to three), it's actually a more original and compelling album. Released in 1994, Slanted often sounded like a tribute album to Holloway's idols and influences, but the following year's Struttin' is much more relaxed and expansive; Holloway's own style, a wide-ranging mix of gutbucket funk and bop cool, is much more in evidence on this selection of standards and newer compositions. The opening "Amazon River" sets the tone with its mellow, percussion-led groove, over which Holloway trades choruses with pianist Kenny Barron. Barron is the album's MVP, also featured to excellent effect on the duet "Where Are You" and the Harold Arlen standard "Come Rain or Come Shine." The album ranges from the Latin crackle of an Afro-Cuban-influenced take on Gene Ammons' "Jungle Strut" (featuring a wicked organ solo by Lonnie Liston Smith) to a simply gorgeous pair of ballads, Tadd Dameron's "Soultrane" and George Gershwin's "How Long Has This Been Going On," but Holloway's full-bodied tone and playful improvisational sense anchor them all. Far better than the tentative Slanted, Struttin' is Ron Holloway's breakthrough album. ~ Stewart Mason