Whenever I listen to a disc with a Marsalis performing on it, I picture a scene in the 60s where father Ellis points to his sons and says, “OK, Wynton, you get the trumpet, Branford take the sax, Delfeayo gets the trombone; Jason, you have the vibes.” And the case was settled. So, we’ve got Jason here, obedient son that he is, leading a hip band with Austin Johnson/p, Will Goble/b and Dave Potter/dr through some intriguingly arranged originals.
There’s tons of percussive interplay here, as on the Japanese-tinged “Discipline Discovers…” and the chiming “My Joy.” The band can shift gears like Mario Andretti on the exciting and swift “Blues Can Be Abstract Too” as well as the “Blues for the 29%ers” which has some fascinating interplay between Marsalis and Johnson. A bluesy ballad like “Characters” and the polite and nimble “Ballet Class” reveal the graceful side of things, while Marsalis puts the “vibrate” back in vibe on “The Nice Mailman’s Happy Song to Ann.” Goble’s bass is resolute on “Closing Credits” and does some nice work with Marsalis’ puckered cheeks on “Whistle for Willie,” making this a cheerful and enjoyable disc on many levels.
Basin Street Records