If you thought the tradition of the cocky and strong hard bop trumpeter was dead and gone, wait until you get a load of this guy Darren English. He leads a sizzling quartet of Kenny Banks Jr/p, Billy Thornton/b and Chris Burroughs/dr along with some special guests through a thrilling collection of material that is centered around a suite dedicated to Nelson Mandela, but is framed in some of the most exciting material this side of your Blue Note collection.
His warm horn is graciously gentle along with the deft work of Banks and Thornton on “Imagine Nation” and creates some sweet sounds with effects as Burroughs brushes deftly on a lovely “Body and Soul.” The rhythm section percolates under thriving pieces such as “Bebop” and “Bullet In The Gun” that snap like a whip from an antique store. Carmen Bradford brings in her earnest voice for a dreamy and passionate “Skylark” and sparkling “What A Little Moonlight Can Do,” while tenor saxist Greg Tardy gives extra texture to the easy soul of “The Birth.” If you’re in the mood for a chop fest, you’re going to feel like you’re in brass heaven as Russell Gunn and Joe Gransden bring their horns and swing like there’s no tomorrow as the threesome sears through a white knuckler of “Cherokee” to close this sensational album. Someone buy him a ticket to LA!!!
Hot Shoe Records