After The Rain

Reissue of Alan Skidmore's 1998 album 'After the Rain', which presents the acclaimed saxophonist alongside the Radio-Philarmonie Hannover des NDR and Colin Towns' Mask Symphonic. It offers the listener one of those rare opportunities to hear the tenor saxophone with orchestral accompaniment in a jazz context.

When Alan Skidmore was asked if he would be interested in playing with a German radio orchestra he did not hesitate. The choice of material was to be his, and this final collection of ballads proves a rewarding experience. Numbers from some of the great American song book's finest composers along with three tunes from Alan's lifelong musical inspiration, John Coltrane, are a wonderful illustration of how the pairing of tenor saxophone and orchestra can sound.

Only a handful of great players have had the good fortune to record with strings and Alan Skidmore joined the select company of Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, Ben Webster, Clifford Brown and Don Byas with this CD.

Among the composers featured are Cole Porter, Rogers and Hart, Duke Ellington and Benny Golson, with arrangements by Jörg Achim Keller, Horst Mühlbradt and Colin Towns. As Richard Williams concludes in his sleeve notes, "For all the poise and elegance of the arrangements, the natural spontaneity of Skidmore's playing shines through. It's a perfect combination."