Keeping the tradition alive, yet looking forward. Isn’t that what every generation is supposed to do?
Bassist Clovis Nicolas gets an endorsement from Ron Carter in the liner notes, and it’s easy to hear why on this sessin with Riley Mulherkar/tp, Luca Stoll/ts-ss, Alex Wintz/g, Tadataka Unno/p and Jimmy MacBride. The music has its heart in modern bop, but Clovis’ compositions have extra doors in the hallways in which the team turns into for new moods and vistas at a single turn of the knob. Mulherkar has a sweet tone on his horn, similar to Kenny Dorham, which makes sense that he would feel so comfortable on Dorham’s “None Shall Wander.” Wintz’s guitar has a wondrous swing to it, making wonders on “Juggling” and “Pisces” and Stoll’s tenor sounds right at home on Sunny Rollins’ “The Bridge.” Nicolas demonstrates his lyricism as he closes the disc leading the pack on a lovely “Sweet Lorraine” that will make you hum along the whole time. Nice treatment of sounds all around.
Drummer and vocalist Ulysses Owens Jr leads from behind in ways that President Obama can only dream of here on this collection of tunes with Anat Cohen/ts-cl, Jason Palmer/tp, Michael Dease/tb and a rhythm team of “Gilad Hekselman/g, Christian sands/p and Reuben Rogers/b. Owens’ work on drums bookend the tunes which include his soulful voice here and there. Guitar and Tenor sax gel together on the flowing “Exodus” and Anat Cohen’s clarinet resonates on the joyfully percussive “Samba Jam.” A gentle ballad features wondrous trumpet work by Palmer on “The Gift of Forgiveness” and Dease’s trombone is warm and vibrant as he dances with Sands on “For Nelson.” A handful of guests pop up, with Benny Benack’s trumpet glowing on “The Gift of Forgiveness” and Charles Turner coming to town on “People Make the World Go Round.” Lots to like here.
Sunnyside Records
Clef Records
http://www.clovisnicolas.com/