Bass clarinetist Todd Marcus tells a story about his home community of Baltimore, Maryland on this clever and endearing album. Along with his compositions, he adds interviews and street scenes with various denizens at street intersections or the local church, creating a holistic atmosphere to the tribute.
Marcus joins together Paul Bollenbeck/g, Warren Wolf/dr-vib, George Colligan/p, Kris Funn/b and Eric Kennedy/dr to create a mural of the various colors of his town. His bass clarinet gurgles to the bluesy groove of “On the Corner” while the team swirls on the frantic “An Intersection of Change.” Wolf’s vibes team with the reedist to create a dramatic modal “Pennsylvania Avenue Hustle” while Colligan lurks on “Fear of the Known” and “PTSD in the Hood.”
The interview reveal the good, bad and ugly of the area, while the visit to a local church shows the foundation of hope with a fervent take of “I Surrender All.” As Marcus closes out with a pastoral “Covered in Snow” and gracious “NJ ‘88” you feel that there is a two way love street in the center of town.