Trumpeter John Daversa brings his orchestra to interpret compositions by Justin Morrell, pieces that are built around various vocalizations created by Morrell’s nonverbal son, Loren. This intriguing and brilliant idea plays out fascinatingly well, with wondrous themes, elegant orchestrations and Daversa’s nuanced horn work that has a Chet Baker-California Cool clarity.
Morell also plays guitar with the orchestra and choir, soloing on the bluesy “Seeing It Again For The First Time” and sauntering for “Learning Simply To Be”. Daversa, meanwhile at times sounds like Miles Davis’ Sketches of Spain mode on the sweet “The Smallest Thing” and sleek “Two Steps Forward”. The woodwinds are delicate on “Loren’s Theme” and pianist Conrad Fok is dark during “It’s Enough to Be Here, Now, and drummer David Chiverton is crisp on the bopping “The Urgency of Every Moment”. The themes, mood and subject matter are all tied together in a heartfelt fashion, and you can feel the tender charms on each piece. A true labor of true love.