For his most recent album, Purple Violets (Stunt), saxophonist SAM RIVERS is backed by players four and five decades his junior–and bassist Ben Street and Danish drummer Kresten Osgood work hard to keep up with the 81-year-old leader. Rivers doesn’t have anything left to prove; he preceded Wayne Shorter in the Miles Davis Quintet, recorded a host of classic inside-out recordings for Blue Note, was a driving force behind the 70s loft-jazz scene, and even played straight man in Dizzy Gillespie’s mid-80s group. But he keeps barreling along anyway, displaying a resilience and flow of ideas that would be impressive even in a much younger musician. Purple Violets, a superb set of dynamic free bop, never abandons its elegant swing (bolstered by occasional guest vibist Bryan Carrott), but Rivers has no problem going out on a limb if the context demands it. On the bracing solo outing Portrait (FMP, 1997) Rivers (playing reeds, flute, and piano, sometimes singing) lets the mood range from contemplative to wild, sustaining a clear sense of control all along. For the closing night of this year’s Empty Bottle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music, Rivers will give a rare solo performance.
