Alonzo "Pookie" Johnson: Legacy

ALONZO "POOKIE" JOHNSON: LEGACY

a review by Barney Quick

from the September 1996 issue of BC magazine

Pookie Johnson, along with Jimmy Coe (in whose big band Johnson plays), is one of the alto sax titans of Indianapolis, a town better known for its guitarists (Wes Montgomery and Royce Campbell), trumpeters (Freddie Hubbard and Pharez Whitted) and trombonists (J.J. Johnson and Slide Hampton). These sax men elected to stay in their city rather than seek coastal opportunities like the above-mentioned musicians. While they have foregone wider exposure, they have assumed the status of legends among local fans. Legacy will further contribute to that process for Johnson.

The music herein strikes a balance between being accessible and allowing the players plenty of space for stretching out. Johnson's style is breezy, confident and melodic throughout. Buddy Montgomery (Wes's surviving brother) contributes thoughtful chord clusters and well-placed piano phrasing. There is a nice Jeff Littleton bass solo on "Jammin' on Sunset." The only drawback is a poor engineering job on Kevin Johnson's vocal on "Goin' to the Avenue." Such a tribute to Indy's jazz heyday should have received more attention in the final mix.

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