Two Horns, One Guitar, Pure Swing
Jackson playing in a tenor style that is quickly disappearing—a reminder of what was being lost.
Single Action catches Willis Jackson and Pat Martino in a room together in 1978, and the session has the feel of two players who know exactly what they want and aren't interested in filler. Jackson brings his tenor saxophone—direct, soulful, unafraid of the blues—while Martino answers on guitar with the kind of fluency that lets him sit comfortably in a saxophone's pocket without disappearing into the background. Carl Wilson holds it down on organ, Jimmy Lewis anchors the bottom, and Buddy Caldwell adds texture on congas. It's a working band's setup: no overdubs, no production tricks, just five players making decisions in real time.
The music itself is straight-ahead soul jazz and hard bop, the kind of thing that was already becoming retro by 1978. Martino doesn't venture into his fusion experiments here; he's playing bebop changes and blues changes with the kind of clarity that makes you wonder why he wasn't doing more of this throughout his career. Jackson, by this point well into his own long run, sounds authoritative and unhurried. The interplay between saxophone and guitar is the heart of the record—they trade phrases, they lock in, they give each other room.
AllMusic reviewer Scott Yanow heard in Jackson's playing a style that was already disappearing, a reminder of an earlier era of tenor saxophone that didn't require explanations or apologies. Single Action doesn't rewrite anything, but it documents two solid musicians doing what they'd learned to do well, and sometimes that's worth more than innovation.
Who's playing
Jimmy Lewisdouble bass
Pat Martinoguitar
Willis Jacksontenor saxophone
Carl Wilsonorgan
Buddy Caldwellcongas
