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by Rick Holland
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Personnel: Sean Jones (trumpet); Ron Blake, Walter Smith III (tenor saxophone);
Tia Fuller (alto saxophone, flute); Andre Hayward (trombone); Mulgrew
Miller (piano); Orrin Evans (keyboards); Kenny Davis (bass); E.J.
Strickland, Corey Rawls (drums)
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Tracks:Gemini (Phase 1), In Her Honor, Rain Of Patience, Blues For Matt B,
BJ’s Tune (Life In The Hand, Divine), Mission Statement, Gemini (Phase
2), Into The Sun, Chillin’ At Da Grill, T.V. Land, Momma’s Groove,
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Sean Jones
Roots
Young trumpet master Sean Jones has found a voice and a sound on his new release Roots. This music captivates listeners with compositions that embrace Hard-bop, Gospel, and R&B traditions. He is reunited on this disc by Mulgrew Miller,Tia Fuller (Alto, Flute) and Orrin Evans (piano) from Eternal Journey recording project. This session also includes veterans Ron Blake, Walter Smith III on saxes, E.J. Strickland and Corey Rawls on drums and Andre Hayward on Bone. This forms a group of musicians who play with nice chemistry and with a groove that ‘feels’ great throughout in a variety of musical settings.
The thing that really struck me with this disc is you have an emerging artist, who clearly understands how he wants to convey his voice through his music. His compositions and arrangements clearly convey a side to Sean Jones that is spiritual and uplifting. It’s hard to convey Sean’s music as one particular style, rather it is music that translates a cross relation of African-American Diaspora. It’s refreshing to listen to, and displays honesty and talented musical voice.
Some of the highlights of this disc are Sean’s beautiful trumpet and flugel sound. You’ll hear glimpses of Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw amongst others. But one needs to realize equipment has changed so much in the last 30 years, that labeling like this at times becomes futile. His sound is fully formed. He’s a soulful player who can translate hard-bop language on call. Check out Offering Time. It will blow your hard-bop socks out the door. But this album is about other things than just translating Jazz tradition. The history and tradition are clearly evident, but to this writer this recording’s soul lies in the compositions Sean has written and how he translates these musical ideals.
Each cut is consistent. Besides playing a beautiful tribute on Come Sunday, Jones translates traditional gospel melodies like the opening Children’s Hymn (Jesus Loves Me), I Need Thee and John 3:16. He compliments these gospel melodies with several from his own pen. He does not feel the need to stick to one musical genre, which is an intelligent choice for these times. In fact that’s what I often love about the younger musicians recordings, is to see what influences they’ll bring to the Jazz genre to make their music unique.
I recommend this disc without hesitation. For more information on the music of Sean Jones, please visit:
www.seanjonesmusic.com
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Rick Holland |
| About the author: |
| A versatile musician and veteran performer in organizations such as the Louie Bellson Big Band (Chicago Based Band), Jimmy Dorsey, Mike Pendowski, Rob Parton , Buddy De Franco, Buselli-Wallrab and Terry Gibbs Bands, Rick Holland brings a wealth of experience and musicality to each performance. |
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