Centenially relevant given the Miles Davis theme, the timing is immaculate.
Followers of Marc Free and Nick O’Toole’s Posi-Tone will also be very familiar with the top players involved.
But don’t let the clunky title put you off.
What’s here isn’t stiff.
There’s rigour.
But rigor mortis won’t and hasn’t set in.
Feel good fare in the main – if you are looking for anything edgy though it’s notable by its absence.
That isn’t even a problem. Vinnie Sperrazza sees to that.
The drummer knits well with Mingus Big Band stalwart bassist Boris Kozlov. And there’s a feeling of blissful engagement rippling right across the sextet.
The more reflective aspects of the album are provided by vibist Behn Gillece especially on ‘Circle.’
Birth of the Cool evergreen ‘Boplicity’ proves most evocative. And the band is more convincing and comfortable tackling the early Milesian work than the later last period numbers.
It’s curious that there isn’t a trumpeter here – and while Eli Howell’s trombone playing is fine, I think you need trumpet to do justice to such a theme. Trombone isn’t at all an understudy to trumpet with the best will in the world as it conjures a completely different sound world even while remaining a kissing cousin. Kind reader, though, make no mistake, you won’t feel too brassed off.
Certainly the new Miles Davis tribute from Gregory Hutchinson addresses that necessity admirably with Ambrose Akinmusire fulfilling that trumpet role – so if you have to choose one Miles tribute this year go for Kind of Now.
Art Hirahara always sounds as if he is enjoying himself and the congeniality of the collegiality is a plus point. Hear the pianist comping on the Duchess’ excellent A Time for Love – the best jazz vocals album of the year to date and to which he contributes exquisitely in all the right places.
