Eric Alexander Quartet - Gentle Ballads VI (180g Double Vinyl LP)

American tenor saxophone master Eric Alexander is widely considered one of the finest giants of his generation, celebrated for his warm, robust tone and exceptional phrasing. After placing second in the prestigious 1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, Alexander launched a prolific career that quickly established him as a cornerstone of the Venus Records roster. His landmark 2004 album, Gentle Ballads—which critics warmly compared to John Coltrane's iconic 1960s ballad recordings—was such a critical and commercial triumph that it spawned one of the most respected series in modern jazz. The highly acclaimed series returns with its long-awaited installment, Gentle Ballads VI. Backed by a stellar quartet featuring John Di Martino on piano, Dezron Douglas on bass, and Willie Jones III on drums, Alexander delivers a masterclass in emotional expression. Recorded on June 11 and 12, 2021, at Tedesco Studio in New York, the performance features deeply moving, single-horn tenor saxophone renditions of timeless classics such as "So in Love," "Say It," and "Hushabye." The quartet’s intimate, late-night chemistry elevates each track, capturing the ultimate, velvety essence of the romantic jazz ballad. Releasing in 2025 as part of the prestigious VENUS MASTERPIECE LP COLLECTION, this premium limited edition 180g Double Vinyl LP set brings this modern classic to a deluxe vinyl format. Produced, mixed, and mastered by the legendary sound engineer Tetsuo Hara using Venus’s signature "Hyper Magnum Sound" process, and housed in a stunning gatefold jacket with OBI strip, this release ensures that every nuance of the New York session is preserved in its entirety without omission, offering a strictly limited, one-time pressing that will be permanently retired once sold out.