If you’ve seen or heard Wayne Shorter the past decade, then you’re familiar with the jaw dropping flexibility and symbiotic and almost telepathic communication between Danilo Perez/p, John Patitucci/b and Brian Blade/dr. They’ve done projects on their own over the years, but here you get them together to present a gift to both their employer and fans.
As with the title, many of the songs are dedicated to light, with each tune itself being quite prismatic in variety. In the pocket post bop is present on “CHildrenof the Light” while West African textures are brought to the front when Perez switches to an electric piano on the rich “Lumen.” The team creates a dramatic rubato which includes the voices of children on the reflective “Milky Way” and the team does some interesting interpretations of Shorter’s “Dolores.” Patitucci’s electric bass glows in the dark along with guest cellist Sachi Patitucci on”Ballad for a Noble Man” nad deep introspection is palpable on “Luz Del Alma” and “Looking For Light.” Of course there are moments of free/collective improvisation, but Blade is able to keep it reined in without a stampede. The range, width and depth of these three kings of jazz is impressively displayed here.
Mack Avenue Jazz