#NewYorkNotes #FactoryFresh by #AnthonyFerrara #AnthonyFerraraSax #BigTonesBand @bigtonesband Released February 14, 2025 Earns Our Highest Recommendation
It's not who you know, it's WHOM YOU KNOW and we know Saxophone Jazz Sensation Anthony Ferrara.
The third time's a charm!
Previously, he earned high accolades for Early Spring and Cold Faded, his debut album and his second respectively, each highly recommended. Allow us to reemphasize his talent is not only in his stellar performances of the saxophone but also in his intelligent compositions, showcased consistently throughout the three albums and representing the vast majority of the work.
This is great music to fly to, fantastic music to drive to and it indicates movement and momentum. If you have a store or a restaurant and we know we have a lot of you reading us, this is the classy kind of music that will set the standard for success in your business as it adds atmosphere and style without being negative in any way, shape or form. We also love how the jacket inside tells you the story of the album with beaucoup de insight from the talent himself, adding tremendous value to the listening experience. Intelligent quotes by Anthony are included!
In sharp contrast to many of his generation who don't always appreciate the talents that have preceded them, Anthony additionally pays homage to the greats and celebrates their work. Factory Fresh has two standards; Straighten Up and Fly Right is a Nat King Cole original as well as his first major radio hit: it's peppy, ambient and versatile.
Casual Sprint is the second track, and it begins the hit parade of Ferrara's compositions. Zippy and fun, it reminds us of a staircase with a terrific piano entry that rounds out the saxophone talent two minutes in. Factory Fresh, the title track, is more soulful, evidencing the range of talent Ferrara possesses and absolutely nails. Clean and Green graduates this level of depth in the following song with its maximum soulfulness without any ridiculous over-the-top segments that lesser acts may use as a gimmick. When you pursue excellence, no gimmicks are needed. There's also a satisfying background rumble to punctuate the sax success.
Missing Borders we found to be introspective, while Falling for Nothing was slower, thoughtful and reflective. It made Peachy think of Rhapsody in Blue (Gershwin), a favorite of hers showcased in Disney's Fantasia 2000, because she associates that with a fast subway ride and this was about missing the train, a true New York experience we all have had! When something is not right, stop, think and analyze.
To a Crisp reminded us of fall weather and it was a bit like Halloween; tuck this one away for then too! Footprints was written by legendary saxophone player Wayne Shorter and it reminded us of literal footprints on the beach. The euphoric The Kind of Love You Give seals the deal on this talent on the rise with a slow burn momentum that will thrill you.
Factory Fresh by Anthony Ferrara has earned our Highest Recommendation.
Factory Fresh: February 14, 2025
Straighten Up and Fly Right* (Nat King Cole)
Casual Sprint
Factory Fresh
Clean and Green
Missing Borders
Falling For Nothing
To A Crisp
Footprints* (Wayne Shorter)
The Kind of Love You Give
Since its inception in 2022, The Big Tones Band marks its style by covering a wide array of genres and decades that can bring any event to its highest level.
New Releases February 2025
Release date: February 14 – (Ships Feb. 5)
SCCD 31975 Anthony Ferrara “Factory Fresh”
7 16043 19752 1
Anthony Ferrara for his third album here teams up again with the dream rhythm section of Versace/Anderson/Drummond. Ron McClure who was one of Ferarra’s teachers at NYU once commented on this group, “This is a four-way conversation between four men who have a mutual respect of the process of making music, always cognitive of the group effort. Had they played the Manhattan phonebook, they would have made it work.”
“What is particularly impressive about Ferrara is that he not only has a mature, confident and appealing sound, but also is finding his own voice. Ferrara is also a capable composer, penning a diverse set of songs that invite repeated hearings, a huge challenge for any musician at the beginning of their career.” (Ken Dryden – NYCJR on SCCD 31938 Cold Faded)
ANTHONY FERRARA tenor saxophone GARY VERSACE piano
JAY ANDERSON bass
BILLY DRUMMOND drums
Recorded February 2024
1 STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT (Nat King Cole, Irving Mills) 8:00 2 CASUAL SPRINT (Anthony Ferrara) 7:05
3 FACTORY FRESH (Anthony Ferrara) 7:51
4 CLEAN AND GREEN (Anthony Ferrara) 8:10
5 MISSING BORDERS (Anthony Ferrara) 7:17
6 FALLING FOR NOTHING (Anthony Ferrara) 6:34
7 TO A CRISP (Anthony Ferrara) 5:12
8 FOOTPRINTS (Shorter, Wayne) 8:13
9 THE KIND OF LOVE YOU GIVE (Anthony Ferrara) 7:25
Total Playing Time 67:18
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