Preview: Tim Warfield @ Bohemian Caverns
"I wanted to do a tribute to Shirley Scott, my mentor and a good friend who was very generous with me in my younger years."
That is how powerhouse saxophonist Tim Warfield describes his latest recording, One for Shirley, a warm and loving tribute to the organist who passed away in 2002 due to heart failure brought about by her use of the diet medication, Fen-Phen.
Warfield, who is based out of the Philadelphia area, will be celebrating the release of the album this Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns. The historic club is a fitting setting for the music, which represents a bit of a departure for Warfield.
"The idea of Bohemian Caverns is pretty simpatico to the music I’ll be playing. It’s a little retro," he explained.
Warfield's music is often described as "edgy" and "aggressive," but in this instance he reached into a different part of his playing in order to preserve the album's intent.
"This is a project that embodies the fundamental essence of how [Shirley Scott] played and what I experienced when I was performing with her, but I wanted people to still be able to say, 'Yup, that’s Tim Warfield.'"
The album succeeds on every front. The compositions recall the hard-bop and soul jazz of the 1960s and the musicianship is first rate. A standout on the recording is up-and-coming organist Pat Bianchi, whose rich sound and soulful playing stay true to tradition, but also are signs of great things to come.
Hosting the release party at the Caverns also represents a homecoming of sorts for Warfield. A regular at venues such as Twins Jazz and Blues Alley, the Howard University grad cut his teeth in the District's jazz scene and has a true appreciation for the resurgence of U Street.
"I lived in the area I'll be performing in and I used to walk back and forth from apartment with a stick," Warfield said. "I can say very matter-of-factly that the music scene in D.C. is thriving right now in comparison to what it was just five years ago."
Tim Warfield will be performing 9 and 11 p.m. sets at Bohemian Caverns on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $22.