Trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard is nothing if not restless. He’s released music ranging from soundtracks to straightahead jazz, and he’s even currently working on a jazz opera. Here, he returns to Blue Note Records with a vengeance, using his team of Fabian Almazon/p, Joshua Crumbly/g, Brice Winston/ts and Kendrick Scott/dr in classic Art Blakey Quintet fashion. The music is exciting small group jazz, and like his first boss, Blanchard encourages the band members to contribute material of their own, such as Almazon’s spotlight on “No Borders, Just Horizons.” Not only that, but the leader, after stating the team in union with Winston, rarely takes the first solo; he lets Winston’s warm tenor or Almazon’s searchingly lyrical piano do the first leg of the relay on material like the cooking title track or the thoughtful ballad “Jacob’s Ladder.” Guests Ravi Coltrane, and alumnus Liounel Loueke show up for some intriguing material like “Pet Step Sitter’s Theme Song,” and Ron Carter brings his bass for a couple track, particularly the hip title track. Another solid effort by a guy who is creating an amazing catalogue.
Blue Note Records