Master technician of the saxes, James Carter brings his power trio of Hammond B3er Gerald Gibbs and drummer Alex White to thrill the crowd at the Newport Jazz Festival to soulful interpretations of the Django Reinhardt songbook. Detroit gypsy jazz?!?
With tenor in tow, Carter and Gibbs go for the proverbial “it” on a firey “Anouman” that has sounds bouncing off the walls. Gibbs’ fingers splash and splay out sounds with Carter gliding over “La Manour De Mes” and the tenor gets thick as sorghum on a bluesy ballad take of “Pour Que Ma Vie Demeous.” White’s ride cymbal leads the way into a funky “La Valse Des Night” that segues into a percussive avalanche with Carter’s soprano searing through with white heat, and the seductively soulful “Melody Au Crepuscule” is a dirt under the nails gritty gallop.
The three are in a boisterous mood at this fest, and they stretch out with enthusiasm, with sound ricocheting with abandon. WHEW!