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What’s modern jazz supposed to sound like anymore, with so many styles to choose from these days, its hard to tell. Hard/post bop continues its popular resurgence, the avant-garde is in full effect with more variety than ever before, fusion and soul jazz are back again as relevant styles, meanwhile, all manner of “nu” influences take musicians in a myriad of different directions. If you are looking for that ‘real jazz‘ that is not a direct throwback to the 60s, then Dave Douglas’ “Time Travel” could be a great place to start. Drawing on a legacy that starts with Mingus and Dolphy, Douglas and his band play an abstract hard post bop sound that often veers into free territory while incorporating modern elements as well. Douglas and his crew know how to swing, but this isn't a look back at the Blue Note era. Much of this band’s modern approach comes from drummer Rudy Royston, who plays in a very loose style that often only implies the pulse while supplying complicated fills and patterns that draw on modern fusion as well as free jazz. One possible precedent for this album could be Herbie Hancock’s VSOP concerts that revisited the 60s Miles Davis post bop sound, but with an aggressive post-fusion approach.
Two great standout cuts on this album that show this band’s sense of humor include “Beware of Doug”, which takes old school jump blues riffs and scrambles them up, and CD opener “Bridge to Nowhere” that has that slam bang T Monk type sound. Those who enjoy a more free style abandon will want to check out “Time Travel” and “Little Feet”, while “Garden State” supplies the high speed post bop rush. “Time Travel” is a great CD, real jazz that continues to move forward without selling out to simpler trendy approaches.