Al Strong has a Blue Note hard boppers heart as he brings his trumpet, flugelhorn and steelpan in a variety of settings that mix modern with traditional.
He mixes and matches with drummers Jeremy Clemons-Iajhi Hampden, keyboardists Charles Robinson-Joel Holloway, Lovell Bradford-Ryan Hansleler, percussionist Brevan Hampden, bassist Lance Scott and a sax team of Shaena Ryan Martin, Bluford Thompson, James Gates and Alan Thompson along with other cameo guests. Vintage bop takes place with Thompson’s tenor and Strong’s rich horn on the swinging “Getaway 9” as Strong shows his hip chops with Martin on the soulful “CI’s Blues.” Extremely clever is a take of the song “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and going from a childlike chant to a fun and funk piece along with Ira Wiggins’ flute.’The team does a shuffle boogie on “Fond Of You” while Strong shows his warm tender side on “Liquid.” A couple jazz standards are goosed up with delight, as “My Favorite Things” boogaloos with the horns and “Blue Monk” stomps like the Funky Chicken. This guys gotta be seen in concert, as he sounds fun to watch . Get him to LA!