Where has this guy been hiding?!?!? Altoist Kenny Garrett hasn’t put out a disc in 4 years, and a studio one in 6. He used to be ubiquitous, now he’s the jazz version of Where’s Waldo. This one will make you realize why you liked him in the first place. He’s still got the geat tone, he knows when to hold ‘em and fold ‘em in a solo, and his writing skills are as wide ranging as they are clever. He’s got some lyrical beauties like “Ballad Jarrett” and a clever dittie on soprano called “Detroit” that makes you feel like you’re listening to an old lp. Some material has the horn player mixing sounds with vocalist Nedelka Prescod on a tribute to the famous drummer (“Haynes Here”) that is as anthematic as it is celebratorily swinging. Edgier tunes like “J. Mac” show of the flexible rhythm team of Benito Gonzalez/p, Nat Reeves/b, Ronald Bruner/dr and Rudy Bird/perc, making this disc a true team effort. Welcome back. I really missed you!!!!
Mack Avenue Records