Once hailed as the next Freddie Hubbard, trumpeter Christian Scott has created a career that veers between vintage hard bop and tribal Africa. This time out he goes to the Motherland for inspiration, mixing tribal sounds with American R&B and a dash of hip hop.
His horn is still in great form, declaratory on the multi-tracked anthem “Her Arrival” and gloriously muted on “Diviner” along with Elena Pinderhughes’ flute. Rich earthy vocals by Saul Williams add to the tribal feel on “I Own The Night” and dramatic “The Shared Stories of Rivals” with a mix of third world and urban pulse tasting like a curry on “Songs She Never Heard.” The album comes across more like a travelogue, with Scott as the tour guide taking you to different villages and neighborhoods. Can this bird fly in concert? Can’t wait to see.