While the Gate Is Open


While the Gate Is Open is the fourth album by saxophonist Gary Thomas which was recorded in 1990 and released on the JMT label. It features Thomas' interpretations of eight jazz standards.

Reception

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow states, "Thomas gives the eight tunes fresh treatments and as usual avoids all clichés in his explorative improvisations." The Guardian's John Fordham noted "This one features the hard-nosed Miles Davis saxophonist Gary Thomas with a fiercely collaborative band of experts... There's a lot of full-on tenor sax blasting over ferocious percussion barrages... The saxophonist's tendency to spit out phrases rather than massage them into life gives his work a rather impassive quality that mellowed later".

Track listing

  1. "Strode Rode" - 8:06
  2. "Star Eyes" - 7:27
  3. "You Stepped Out of a Dream" - 7:58
  4. "The Song Is You" - 7:31
  5. "Invitation" - 10:00
  6. "Chelsea [Bridge |Chelsea Bridge]" - 5:38
  7. "Grand [Canyon Suite|On the Trail]" - 6:47
  8. "Epistrophy" - 5:39

    Personnel