1995 · Album
Come Play With Me
Recorded 1995 · Arabesque · Produced by Not specified in source material
A quartet that sounds like it's been working forever
McPherson sounds clearly inspired, presenting a unified sound with sidemen he'd rarely played with before.
What makes Come Play with Me work is the seamless rapport among musicians who, on paper, had no business sounding this tight together. Charles McPherson recorded this date in 1995 with a group of collaborators who, despite limited prior history, locked into each other with the ease of a working band. That kind of chemistry doesn't happen by accident. The AllMusic reviewer Scott Yanow caught exactly what matters here: "Although he had rarely played with any of the sidemen heard on his Arabesque release before, the quartet presents a unified sound, as if they were a regularly working group."
By this point in his career, McPherson had already established himself as a serious saxophonist with deep roots in the tradition, but this session feels unhurried and alive in a way that comes from genuine listening rather than rehearsal. The musicians trade ideas cleanly, and McPherson himself is in top form throughout, sounding clearly inspired by the challenge of playing with fresh ears. There's no ego jockeying, no sense that anyone's trying to prove something.
Yanow's review confirms what the listener hears: McPherson navigates whatever material comes his way with conviction and warmth. This isn't a landmark recording or a turning point in his story, but it's a solid reminder that good music happens when skilled players show up ready to engage with each other. For listeners already familiar with McPherson's work, it's worth tracking down. For newcomers, you'd want to establish his earlier recordings first, but this one rewards attention.
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