Wallace Roney: Blue Dawn-Blue Nights

Trumpeter Wallace Roney has embraced the similarity of his tone to Miles Davis and has released another strong album with a team of Emilio Modeste/ts-ss, Oscar Williams II/p, Paul Cuffari/b, Quintin Zoto/g, and trading off Koho Odu Roney-Lenny White/dr. The inclusion of the George Benson-inspired Zoto for a handful of the tracks is a CTI soulful treat, with the strings swinging on “Don’t Stop Me Now” bopping with the Coltrane-esque Modeste during “Wolfbane” and creating a dark mood with the Roney and Modeste’s soprano on the assertive “Bookendz.” The leader himself is gorgeously muted during “The New Breed”   and languid “In A Dark Room.” Hints of Nefertiti era Davis is palpable on the hectic pulse of “Venus Rising” and muscular “Elliptical,” and there’s nothing wrong with that. Roney always makes vintage tones sound fresh.

www.jazzdepot.com

Leave a Reply