One of this generations most important trumpeters and composers, Tom Harrell keeps trying new ideas (well, not THAT new) by having Luis Perdomo mix Rhodes and piano into the mix as he trades off tenor saxists Dayna Stephens and Mark Turner with a core rhythm team of Charles Altura/g, Ugonna Okegwo/b and Adam Cruz/dr. I say the ideas are “kinda new” because Harrell actually used keyboards back in the days he was recording soundtracks for the Peanuts cartoon TV shows with Vince Guaraldi.
The horns and keys create a cool breeze on “Miramar” and “Alternative Summer” getting peppy during the soulful “Peanut”. Playing organ, Perdomo gives a gospel feel to “UV” with his piano getting into a Horace Silver mode on the stylish “Wind” with more modal atmospheres on “Radius”. Harrell throughout is his glorious self, warm and lyrical, glowing on the pretty “Heliotropew” with Altura. Another thread to Harrell’s rich tapestry of songs.