Tom Harrell continues his explorations into various sounds and styles as he delves into his French Impressionism period. Armed with arrangers pen, trumpet and flugelhorn, he brings together his usual teammates of Wayne Escoffery/ss-ts, Danny Grissett/p and Johnathan Blake/dr and adds Rale Micic/g, Charles Pillow/fl and a pair of strings in Meg Okura/vi and Rubin Kodheli/cel.
The pieces themselves are divided between Harrell, Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, with the French composers getting their works puree’d through Harrell’s sonic musings. Thus, while there are shadowy and sepia toned strings on “Sainte” and “Reverie,” the mood is able to veer into assertive grooves and kinetic interplay between the rhythm team and Harrell’s searching horn. “Sarabande” and “Reverie” have a percussive Latin lilt, and “Beau Soir” stomps like a flamenco dance.
Harrell’s own “Perspectives” goes from Brazilian rhythms to a charged solo by Blake before Escoffrey takes the baton, puts it into his tenor and takes it across the finish line. As with all things Harrell, there are surprises, intrigues and always a perfect mix of challenge and comfort. Enjoy his trip to the lily pond.
High Note Records