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Al Gomes: "I've been friends with Fred Lipsius since 2014. We were introduced to each other by the great jazz guitarist Gerry Beaudoin.

I've always been very proud of my professional association with Fred and his legacy - his two-time Grammy Award-winning ground-breaking work with Blood, Sweat & Tears, 9 Gold Records, his appearance with the band at the legendary Woodstock Music Festival - preceded, however, six weeks prior to that as part of an even more amazing musical line-up and performance at the Newport Jazz Festival, where even Miles Davis was blown away by the new generation of talent in Newport, RI in July of 1969.

Myself and my partner Connie Watrous are working to commemorate that sacred spot in Newport where Blood, Sweat & Tears made an amazing impression on all who attended - a spot where Louis Armstrong gave his last performance, and where Bob Dylan 'went electric' in 1965.

When Fred and I first collaborated on a career strategy, he played me a whole range of new music, and the piece I was most taken with was 'That Inside Feeling.' 'That's the single,' I said to him, 'That's the one.' And he said, as only Fred could say giving his approval, 'I read about you - you know what you're doing.' Well, it turned out it was a good decision, and I'm grateful to him for taking my direction. And The Recording Academy agreed, placing the track on their Official Ballot for The Grammy Awards, along with his album 'Rhythm, Catch 4.'"

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This is Fred’s first jazz sextet recording as a leader. In his liner notes he says: “I went through all my jazz compositions and chose these 12 for the CD. They were penned at different times in my life, but always carry the influences of my musical heroes”.

Originally, Fred intended these tunes and arrangements for an educational book/CD, but after hearing the horns record some of the tunes, he quickly changed the project to a jazz CD, featuring all the band members.

(1) “Rhythm, Catch 4” (the title tune of the CD) is an up-tempo melody based on the standard “I’ve Got Rhythm”, and has the whole band ‘catching’ (or punctuating) beat 4 at places in the melody. Fred’s tenor sax playing is spotlighted.

(2) “Folk Song”, written by Fred around age 18, begins with a simple theme that repeats and varies throughout the tune with interesting chord harmonies. It’s similar to what Bartok did, taking simple European folk melodies and putting his own harmonies to them.

(3) “Some Things You Ain’t”, based on the chords to “All the Things You Are”, begins with Fred playing solo alto sax - improvising ‘freely’ over the whole tune’s chord structure. The rhythm section enters with Fred playing the melody, and then improvising over 3 choruses of the tune (each chorus, modulating into a new key). Fred takes the tune out, playing the melody in the original starting key, and ends the tune.

(4) “Where At?” was inspired by hearing Miles Davis with John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley. The 1st, 3rd, and 5th eight-bar sections of the melody use only a D7 (altered) chord for the harmony.

(5) “Nippon” (means Japan), a fusion tune, reflects impressions of Japan.

(6) “Basie-like” begins with a bass solo followed by the 3 horns playing the tune with a sound reminiscent of the Count Basie Orchestra.

(7) “One For Trane”, dedicated to John Coltrane, is a jazz waltz using similar chords as Coltrane’s chordal reharmonization of “But Not For Me”.

(8) “The Clear Islands” is an up-tempo Latin melody featuring ‘hot’ solos by the trombone and trumpet players.

(9) “Bluesy Hues” contains simple, ‘bluesy’ melodic phrases over a chord progression of all Dominant Seventh Chords.

(10) “Before and After” has touches of music by Bird ‘n Diz, Horace Silver and Benny Golson.

(11) “Balloon Ride”, the other jazz waltz on the CD, takes the listener on a trip in a hot air balloon. The melody is based on a 4-note pattern that Chick Corea showed Fred. Fred used unique chord progressions for the A and B sections of his tune.

(12) “Shuffle Blues” was one of many tunes Fred composed for his small group ensemble students at Berklee College of Music. This track features Fred throughout and is the closer for the CD.

The Musicians:

Fred (alto and tenor saxes)
Jeff Galindo (trombone) was Esperanza Spaulding’s Musical Director.
Greg Hopkins (trumpet/flugel horn) played and arranged for Buddy Rich.
Les Harris, Jr. (drums) played with Diana Krall, Clark Terry, Phil Woods, Marian McPartland, Scott Hamilton, and The Artie Shaw Orchestra.
Russ Hoffmann (piano and electric keyboard) played with James Moody, Rufus Reid, Joe Zawinul, Billy Hart, Bobbie McFerrin, and Paula Cole.
Dave Clark (bass) played with Gary Burton, Danilo Perez, Dave Leibman, Terri Lynn Carrington, Lee Konitz, and John Abercrombie.

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"Blue Funk"

"Somethin' for RJ"

"You Sparkle"

REVIEWS FROM AMAZON

Best Jazz Sax Album Ever, August 17, 2003
By Eugenio Segura (Panama, Panama)

I have Lovano, Garret, Woods, Brecker, Henderson, and a lot of others. This one is the best Jazz Sax CD in my collection. I always ask myself why this man does not record more music. WONDERFULL!!! If you like Jazz Sax dont miss this one.

Amazing Album, December 15, 2003
By Nathan Rosborough (Centreville, VA USA)

Fred Lipsius is an amazing composer, saxophonist, and pianist. I have had the pleasure of learning from Fred at Berklee and he was gracious enough to give me a copy of this CD as well as his other solo album "Better Believe It", which is a funk album, reminiscant of his days in Blood, Sweat, and Tears, where he won numerous Grammys and played all over the world. This entire album is full of straight up combo jazz and ballads, including the virtuoso "Somethin' for R.J" which was done in one take, much like the rest of the album. This album is worth the low cost that it's given. Actually, this album is worth much more than it's given price, and that of the inflated priced pop albums that you see today. Take it from someone who has dealt with this amazing musician on a personal level, Lipsius knows his stuff, and the listener can feel every ounce of emotion that this man pours into his music. I also recommend Fred's other album "Better Believe It" and his albums with BS&T, especially BST4 and Child Is Father to the Man. Buy this album!!

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Fred plays unaccompanied tenor and alto sax jazz improvisations (mostly 'free-form' style) based on 17 standard tunes plus 1 blues, minus the melodies. The CD contains a number of ballads along with a few solos played 'in time'. His solos cover the full spectrum of expressions - from sensitive to very powerful. Although it's mostly a Jazz CD, there are many touches of Classical influences.

Improvisation based off "Ain’t Misbehavin"

Improvisation based off "Falling in Love with Love"

An improvised "Blues"