By Robert Linder, producer of No Worries

Larry Slezak is one of Houston’s great jazz saxophonists, not to mention the country’s. But outside of well-known jazz venues in the southwest, he has seldom been heard in the greater CD audience of today, a loss to jazz fans everywhere. This album No Worries introduces you at long last to his versatility, expressive ideas, energy and mastery of the saxophone. Slezak and his musical friends have laid down some great tracks, and you are about to share some inspired jazz phrasing, exciting musical colors, and a full range of technical virtuosity by a talented group of soloists.

There are new tunes on the CD that will demand you to listen to them again and again: “No Worries” by Larry Slezak, “Distant Harmony” by Jose Miguel Yamal, “Floatin’” by Bernie Hatch, and Houston Vibraphonist Tom Cummings’ tune “Maybe By Tomorrow.” These new tunes mesh well with the standards.

Two other special performers contributed favorably to the success of this CD: trumpet player Dennis Dotson and vocalist Sheri Lavo. Dotson loves “natural” sound and great musical ideas, which came through in his playing on the cuts “Distant Harmony” and “No Worries.” There was an instant musical marriage between Larry and Dennis on these challenging tunes. Other special moments came from Lavo’s beautiful ballad renditions on the cuts “Wee Small Hours” and “Cry Me A River.” Her lovely voice draws you into the great and sensitive lyrics of both songs.

Both energetic and beautiful, the keyboard solos came from the creativity of Jose Miguel Yamal on the B3 Organ and the piano. Clayton Dyess communicates well, and added his exceptional musical thoughts on the guitar. His always-tasty ideas set the right moods for the moment. The rhythm section of Joe Slezak on drums and Thomas Helton on bass kept things tight and interesting as they blended with horns and piano.

If you are a lover of ballads then you are in luck, as the incredible, soulful playing by Slezak on “You’ve Changed,” “Girl Talk,” and “Young And Foolish” will have you gasping for breath. The string arrangements of Bernie Hatch provide a wonderfully rich support for these ballads and the Lavo’s vocals. The standard cuts of “How About You” and “Secret Love” are just dizzy-fingered icing on Larry’s cake. In these cuts as well as in “Chico And The Man,” Slezak shows off his fabulous technique on tenor and soprano sax.

Larry Slezak has presented here a jazz CD with something for everyone. These final resulting takes will delight all jazz aficionados and professionals. You should have ‘no worries’, as you are about to be entertained by the musical magic of Larry Slezak and his saxophone artistry.

No Worries