CD's

The Audience

The Audience
  1. Marie Antoinette
  2. Livin For The City
  3. Love Thy Neighbor
  4. Jonme
  5. Portrait of Jennie
  6. Minor League
  7. Jome
  8. Kiss & Run
  9. Ricme
  10. I'm an Old Cowhand
  • Ralph Lalama - Tenor Sax
  • John Hart - Guitar
  • Rick Petrone - Bass
  • Joe Corsello - Drums

Energy Fields

Energy Fields
  1. The Moontrane
  2. Buzzy
  3. Nonchalant
  4. Old Folks
  5. Like Someone in Love
  6. United
  7. Indian Summer
  8. Just In Time
  9. Blackberry Winter
  • Ralph Lalama - Tenor Sax
  • John Hart - Guitar
  • Rick Petrone - Bass
  • Joe Corsello - Drums
"The saxophonist dices this disc with an array of aggressive solos driving the music in a boppish fashion. Unique arrangements of such standards as 'Old Folks,' Van Heusen's 'Like Someone In Love' and Wayne Shorter's 'United' provide fresh new approaches to these old tunes . . . All you really need is one listen to Energy Fields to feel the heat from one very energetic session of jazz as saxophonist Ralph Lalama and his quartet deliver the electricity that will turn you on and keep you charged up till the end. One excellent recording that is highly recommended." - Edward Blanco ejazznews.com
"Lalama's majestic tone in the superb arrangements of "Like Someone in Love" and the easygoing "Indian Summer" recall Dexter Gordon at the peak of his powers." - Ken Dryden, allmusic.com
"This is a tight knit group that plays jazz with no attempt to sway opinions with deliberate off beat sounds that only impress the untrained ear . . . [Lalama's] ideation is as hip as it gets and the tone is superb. It all flows magically . . . 5 Stars." - John Gilbert, ejazznews.com
"Ralph Lalama presents the full picture of a musician, with a gorgeous tone on ballads and the strength and sensibility to swing the band hard when he wants to. His composition ['Nonchalant'] is one of the most compelling tunes on Energy Fields and adds just enough of a completely fresh sound to balance the largely traditional selection of tunes. The rhythm section is strong and the tunes are well chosen and well played. This type of contemporary approach to traditional jazz is, in my opinion, just what the jazz world needs." - Dave Miele, Jazz Improv NY
"An exciting band with a firm melodic grasp, Ralph Lalama's quartet pours over musical themes with emphasis, as accents fall into place with angular motion and improvised forays push forcefully. The leader's suave tenor, John Hart's sultry guitar, Rick Petrone's driving acoustic bass and drummer Joe Corsello's rhythmic thunder combine gracefully to shape each tone poem with a lyrical message. " - Jim Santella, All About Jazz
"Lalama's 'Energy Fields' (Mighty Quinn) [is] a strong blowing session . . . Lalama's big masculine sound -- in the tradition of tenor men such as Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon and Sal Nistico -- is balanced against the lighter touch of the rhythm section . . . He swings hard and displays a wealth of ideas . . . [John] Hart plays the thoughtful musical architect in contrast to Lalama's robust, head-on approach throughout the album. [Rick] Petrone and [Joe] Corsello are ever-tasteful and swinging." - Owen Cordle, Jazz Critic
"What's also great is the recording itself, done by Richard Corsello and produced by Jerry Roche. Corsello captures these guys very well, it's not too thin and it's obvious they're all in the same room together, so there's that added interaction that is essential to any jazz recording. Fans of Lovano, Charlie Mariano, and Phil Woods, along with hard bop enthusiasts, need this in their collection." - The Run-Off Groove, blog
"Ralph Lalama is one of those guys who'd fit that old Downbeat category deserving of wider recognition. Maybe you should make his acquaintance." - George Fendel, "Fresh Tracks" Jazzscene
"Lalama is a grand, modern-minded storyteller who knows bebop, and other stuff, too. … He has his own sound, husky with a bit of sparkle, going from fat, low-end belches to whispery high tones.
His melodies are authoritative and warmly melodic, his time drummer-sure. In other words, a first-class jazz soloist." - Zan Stewart, Down Beat"

Circle Line

Circle Line
  1. Circle Line
  2. My Ideal
  3. Giant Steps
  4. You Are Too Beautiful
  5. Fiesta Espagnol
  6. Dark Chocolate
  7. Homestretch
  8. Without a Song
  • Peter Bernstein - Guitar
  • Ralph Lalama - Tenor Sax
  • Kenny Washington - Drums
  • Peter Washington - Bass
Ralph and the guitar trio travel full circle to ear 4.5 "Downbeat Stars" with this well-rounded collection.

Music For Grown-ups - Ralph Lalama Quartet

Music For Grown-ups - Ralph Lalama Quartet
  1. I've Never Been In Love Before
  2. Metro-North
  3. Lullaby Of The Leaves
  4. Bacha Feelin'
  5. Blue Gardenia
  6. Nonchalant
  7. Newk It!
  8. Scoops
  • Richard Wyands - Piano
  • Ralph Lalama - Tenor Sax
  • Kenny Washington - Drums
  • Peter Washington - Bass
Don't let the title fool you, the kids can handle it.

You Know What I Mean

You Know What I Mean
  1. Lester Left Town
  2. This Love of Mine
  3. Falypso Calypso
  4. These Foolish Things
  5. You Know What I Mean
  6. Love Letters
  7. Will You Still Be Mine?
  8. Take the Coltrane
  • Ralph Lalama - Tenor Sax
  • George Cables - Piano
  • Dennis Irvwin - Bass
  • Leroy Williams - Drums
 

Momentum

Momentum
  1. Da-Lama's Da-Lemma
  2. The Rainbow People
  3. The Break Through
  4. Kids Know
  5. Detour Ahead
  6. Wonderful! Wonderful!
  7. Beautiful Moons Ago
  8. Pal Joey
  • Ralph Lalama - Tenor Sax
  • Kenny Barron - Piano
  • Dennis Irwin - Bass
  • Kenny Washington - Drums
Yeah, that's what Ralph lalama sounds like - Superman Playing tenor - faster than a speeding bullet - able to leap tall arpeggios at a single bound. Seriously, this is an enormously satisfying tenor Quartet session. After listening to a guy like Lalama and the strength, logic and beauty with which he plays you wonder why he's not a more 'popular' name at least as far as tenor players go . . . Playing with the kind of giant heart and swing that summons up another underated jazz genius - Tubby Hayes, Lalama blows with unrelenting ferocity and charm. Churning out,not chourus after chourus of the latest harmonic inventions, but notes and sounds that are subservient to a kind of jazz poetry last heard from the practioners of the heaviest and most poignant kind of jazz music-players like Mobley, Rollins, Hayes and Montgomery quickly come to mind. Detour Ahead is played with the kind of devasting heart that can put a lump in your throat 'Wonderful' has you dancing about marveling at Lalama's ability to hang that poetry on a string of rocket powered eighth notes. This is a tenor player worth listening to - over and over again.
Review from Amazon.com

Feelin' & Dealin' - Ralph Lalama & His Manhattan All Stars

Feelin' & Dealin' - Ralph Lalama & His Manhattan All Stars
  1. So Nice
  2. Third Time Around
  3. Evol Deklaw Ni
  4. Short Story
  5. Theme for Mel
  6. Microwave Blues
  7. Paradox
  8. Crazeology
  • Ralph Lalama - Tenor Sax
  • Tom Harrell - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
  • Barry Harris - Piano
  • Peter Washington - Bass
  • Kenny Washington - Drums
 

Selected Discography

As A Leader

The Audience (Mighty Quinn, 2010)
Energy Fields (Mighty Quinn, 2008)
Music For Grown-Ups (Criss Cross, 1999)
Circle Line (Criss Cross, 1997)
You Know What I Mean (Criss Cross, 1993)
Momentum (Criss Cross, 1991)
Feelin’ And Dealin’ (Criss Cross, 1990)

With Others

With Tom Boras

Three Houses (MMC Recordings, 1994)

With Steve Brien

Token Entry (La Brava, 2001)

With Carnegie Hall Jazz Band

Eastwood After Hours: Live at Carnegie Hall (Warner Brothers, 1997)
The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band (Blue Note, 1996)

With Danny D’Imperio

Glass Enclosure (V.S.O.P., 1996)
Hip To It (V.S.O.P., 1995)
The Outlaw (Sackville, 1994)
Blues for Philly Joe (V.S.O.P., 1991)
Danny D’Imperio Sextet (V.S.O.P., 1988)

With Greg Hatza

Snake Eyes (Palmetto, 1998)
In My Pocket (Palmetto, 1996)

With Maurice Hines

To Nat King Cole With Love (Arbors, 2006)

With Bill Kirchner

Infant Eyes (Sea Breeze, 2008)
What It Is To Be Frank (Sea Breeze, 1983)
Live In Concert: Trance Dance (Challenge, 1999)

With Alex Leonard

Down In The Depths (AL Bal, 2001)

With David Leonardt

Plays Gershwin (Big Bang, 2000)

With Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra/Vanguard Jazz Orchestra

VJO Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard (Planet Arts Recordings, 2008)
Up From the Skies: The Music of Jim McNeely (Planet Arts Recordings, 2006)
The Way: Featuring the Music of Slide Hampton (Planet Arts Recordings, 2004)
Can I Persuade You? (Planet Arts Recordings, 2002)
Thad Jones Legacy (New World Records, 1999)
Lickety Split: the Music of Jim McNeely (New World Records, 1997)
To You, A Tribute To Mel Lewis (Music Masters, 1990)
The Definitive Thad Jones, Vol. 1 (Music Masters, 1988)
The Definitive Thad Jones, Vol. 2 (Music Masters, 1988)
Soft Lights, Hot Music (Music Masters, 1988)
20 Years at the Village Vanguard (Atlantic Records, 1985)

With Jean-Loup Longnon

Jean-Loup Longnon and His New York Orchestra (Atlantic Jazz, 1988)

With Joe Lovano

Streams Of Expression (Blue Note, 2006)
On This Day…At The Vanguard (Blue Note, 2003)
52nd Street Themes (Blue Note, 2000)

With Pete Malinverni

The Spirit (Saranac Records, 2000)

With Renee Manning

As Is (Ken Music, 1991)
Uhm-Uhm-Uhmmmm (Ken Music, 1986)

With Mark Marino

Deeply Rooted (Cats Paw, 1995)

With Glenn Miller Orchestra

Up Where We Belong (HMC Records)

With Joe Morello

Morello Standard Time (DMP, 1994)
Going Places (DMP, 1993)

With Nicole Pasternak

In A Word (Garagista Music, 2006)
[Ralph Lalama, Producer]
Don’t Go, Don’t Leave, Please Stay (Whispering Pines, 1998)

With Buddy Rich

The Buddy Rich Big Band (MCA, 1990)

With Alan Simon

Without A Song (Whispering Pines, 2005)
The Present (Whispering Pines, 2005)
Rainsplash (Cadence, 1983)

With Gary Smulyan

Saxophone Mosaic (Criss Cross, 1993)

With Tenor Triangle With Melvin Rhyne Trio

Aztec Blues (Criss Cross, 1998)
Tell It Like It Is (Criss Cross, 1993)

With Richie Vitale

Shake It (TBC, 2000)
Live At Smalls (TCB, 1997)

With Michael Weiss

Introducing Michael Weiss (Criss Cross, 1986)

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