No, the album is not (necessarily) an endorsement of Don Trump; rather it’s a celebration of what’s right about this great country, warts and all. Trombonist/leader Delfeayo Marsalis brings together a strong Jazz Orchestra which includes heavy hitters like Victor Goines/ts and Herlin Riley/dr, and even includes guests like Dee-1 for some rap, Cynthia Liggins Thomas for a vocal Wendell Pierce for narration and brother Branford for a tenor solo. The album combines material from a wide variety of American sources, opening with “Star Spangled Banner” all the way through to a rich read of Copland’s “Fanfare For The Common Man.” The band swings with a New Orleans groove on Duke Ellington’s “Second Line” while Andrew Bahan/tp and Khari Allen Lee/as have a good time on Benny Carter’s “Symphony in Riffs. “
Pierce makes very clear that this album, as well as this country, is not for one party,but for all during the title track. The one caveat is when he denigrates those who long for ‘the good old days’ right after a nostalgic look at Africa on “Back to Africa” with the Uptown Music Theatre Choir, De-1 and the Marsalis brothers. Delfeayo gets a rich spotlight on a glorious “Skylark” and Kyle Roussel’s piano graces “All Of Me.” Almost everything America here is highlighted except the church, but that has been addressed before by the older brother. Red, White and Bluesy on many fronts.