Legendary Russian trumpet master Valery Ponomarev delivers a rich tribute to Bopmeister Art Blakey with the leader arranging a number of Blakey’s famed pieces for a modern big band. Recorded in concert at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola back in 2014, the concert has an infectiously celebrative feel, from Ponomarev’s Lee Morgan intro to “ Moanin’” to the snapping drums of “Blues March.” Both of these pieces also included guest appearances by the one man still alive from those sessions, the great tenor saxist Benny Golson, who sounds as hip as back in the Blue Note days.
The horn sections are bluesy and funky on Freddie Hubbard’s “Crisis” and they charge like the light brigade no Ponomarev’s own “Gina’s Cooking” Drummer Victor Jones does a yeoman’s job of filling in for Blakey’s role, letting the legend serve as a source of inspiration and not of imitation as h e drives the band Duke Jordan’s grooving No Hay Problemas” and creates dep pockets for the hard bopping peaces. This is one to keep alongside The Big Beat!
Zoho Records