A few years ago, trumpeter Christian Scott told me that he and his band made a covenant to commit 5 years together to work together and explore musical possibilities together. Since then, he released an impressive Yesterday You Said Tomorrow disc, and then joined with David Sanchez and Stefon Harris has year for a tribute to Cuban music. Returning to his team of Matthew Stevens/g, Jamire Williams/dr, Kris Funn/b and Lawrence Fields/p, Scott releases a highly ambitious and over-achieving 2 disc set of music that encompasses musical landscapes from modern in indie rock to mainstream bop to elegiac ballads
There is A LOT of music on this collection, and it should probably be taken in small doses to truly appreciate it and not be overwhelmed. There are some rock elements on material like “The Berlin Patient” and “Fatima Aisha Rokero” that have a bit of a Coldplay feel, yet Scott’s swinging trumpet bridges the musical generation gap superbly. Boppers like “Who They Wish I Was” show an elasticity that is refreshing, while a fierce intensity on material such as “New New Orleans” is almost epic in its scope. Stevens’ guitar work is energetic yet not overbearing, while Fields has a flowing sound on ”Of Fire” and his closing duet with the leader on “Cara.” This is music in what used to be called in the movies VISTAVISION wide ranging and full of color. Look for it.
Concord Records