Bob Mover Reviewed by Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

The following review of Bob Mover’s It Amazes Me comes from Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck on EJazznews.com:

I, like many others, had not heard of this man and his music and now find it a revelation to experience what he has to offer. It Amazes Me is an original jazz sojourn, the kind you would have heard in the heyday of jazz in the 1950s. Mover’s sax is his lover and his voice comes across relaxed and sincere. Even though his voice may not be his strongest asset, it certainly endeared me to his presentation. After around three listens, I was totally in the corner of this artist.

Like a championship team, Mover drafted all the right players to make his recording a special event. The contributing musicians fit very well with the overall scheme of things and support the focus of this recording superbly. Kenny Barron (piano), Dennis Irwin (bass), Steve Williams (drums), Reg Schwager (guitar tracks # 4, 7,9,10) and Igor Burtman (tenor sax on track #5) are exceptional accompaniment for Bob throughout this session.

“The Underdog” seems to be a self-assessment that relates back to my first comments about Bob’s career and lack of notoriety for his work. Moreover and appropriately, the album closes out with the musically poignant title track, which puts everything into proper perspective without the utterance of one syllable from the artist. The attentive listener can understand from where this sensitive and meaningful artistry comes from. The curtain closes making you feel the show should not be over, in fact, it feels it is just starting. What a beautiful ride you just went on and Bob Mover and his band provided some of the best jazz you have ever heard, so now what? Well the answer is sitting right in front of you, grab the CD and play it again because you will not fully realize the depth and importance of what this man is giving you until you hear it all repeatedly.

Produced by Erkin Bekbolotov, It Amazes Me is a solid jazz album with a mix of traditional and post bop with roots that reach far back, to when the jazz giants were all walking hand in hand down the road to glory’s end. It takes a lot to bring someone back that far and Mover accomplishes that with his ten tracks.

Bob Mover: “It Amazes Me”

The following is a record review from blogcritics.org of jazz musician Bob Mover’s album, “It Amazes Me,” produced by Erkin Bekbolotov.

It’s a nice mix of traditional and post-bop jazz with a little extra spice thrown into the mix by the addition of Mover’s vocals on six of the ten tracks. Although he’s a passable singer, I probably enjoyed those interludes less than the purely instrumental — but maybe that’s just me.

In any case, when Mover wields his sax – either alto and tenor – he’s at his best. Whether it’s his play on standards like “People Will Say We’re In Love,” and “Stairway To The Stars,” or the lush and Latin “(Tu Mi) Delerio,” he’s a delight.

The one original on the album is Mover’s composition, “Erkin,” {editor’s note: this song is named after Erkin Bekbolotov] a nice piece that’s reminiscent of the bop era and provides guest saxman Butman the chance to show his stuff. My favorite here was probably “Sometime Ago,” a nicely paced and soothing tune that not only features some of Mover’s best solo play but also spotlights guest Schwager’s sparkling guitar.

An outstanding collection — highly recommended.

Review of “It Amazes Me” by Bob Mover, Produced by Erkin Bekbolotov

The following review was published in Jazz Times:

For reasons not always clear to listeners, some musicians remain underappreciated for years while others with only a modicum of talent have all the career breaks. It Amazes Me, the first leader recording in more than two decades by alto and tenor saxophonist-singer Bob Mover (recorded in 2006), should cause many to ask why. It’s Mover’s playing on both saxes that will have many wondering how this man could so long have been flying under the radar. His world-weary vocals on six of the CD’s 10 tracks won’t attract that much excitement, yet are deeply felt and conveyed, if somewhat of an acquired taste.

With superb support from pianist Kenny Barron, late bassist Dennis Irwin and drummer Steve Williams, plus Canadian guitarist Reg Schwager on four tracks and Russian tenor saxophonist Igor Butman on one, Mover sails through this 67-1/2-minute batch of mostly standard fare, some not all that widely known, with swinging grace and creative fervor in a modern style slightly influenced by all the usual suspects, yet always clearly of his own making, particularly in the way notes cascade from his horns. If one needs guideposts to be pulled into this music, try Mover’s intense tenor work on the second track, “I Believe in You,” or his two-tenor joust with Butman on the lone Mover original, “Erkin,” written for co-producer Erkin Bek [Erkin Bekbolotov]. It’s not that his alto is on the back burner, of course, as will be obvious on the opening “How Little We Know” and “Stairway to the Stars.”

Fans already know that Barron doesn’t make bad recordings, even in a support role, so one needn’t go into much detail regarding his work here. Suffice it to say that he’s always there behind Mover with the right stuff, as well as offering beautiful solo moments. Schwager should also be heard more, as his playing on “People Will Say We’re in Love” and “Sometime Ago” will indicate.