Carl Allen – “Tippin’ “

This is a hugely enjoyable album from three outstanding musicians. Drummer Carl Allen calls on double bassist Christian McBride and saxophonist Chris Potter to help him make an album that he would most like to hear as a listener.

This is Allen’s first recording as a leader since his pair for Atlantic in the mid ‘90s, apart from two later co-productions with double bassist Rodney Whittaker. As well as his performing and bandleading projects he’s a highly respected educator as the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Missouri in Kansas City and the recipient of the 2025 Ellis Marsalis Jr. Jazz Educator of the Year Award.

McBride was an obvious choice for this album, he and Allen have played together extensively on the road and in the studio for many years, (Allen also plays in McBride’s band Inside Straight). Chris Potter was invited after they all worked together on pianist Renee Rosnes’ Kinds of Love three years ago, his playing reminded Allen of the Sonny Rollins’ Village Vanguard trio recordings and encouraged him to go the chordless route.

Tippin’ was recorded at Van Gelder Studio by Maureen Sickler in five hours on January 13th 2024, without any prior rehearsal. It’s a joyous affair, with spontaneous, free flowing performances on an excellent choice of repertoire.

Of the album’s twelve tracks, two are originals by Allen – Roy’s Joy and his previously recorded Hidden Agenda from The Pursuer (Atlantic,1994), with Potter playing bass clarinet that perfectly suits this haunting blues. McBride brings A Morning Story from his Number Two Express (Verve, 1996), while the rest of the tunes are mostly well known and all fit the trio format well. The one exception to the lineup is the addition of pianist John Lee on Kenny Barron’s Song for Abdullah which features McBride’s excellent bowing and Potter’s bass clarinet.

Allen and McBride are an immaculate rhythm section, playing with drive and swing and giving Potter great freedom and support to play exhilarating solos.The fireworks really start on Freddie Hubbard’s Happy Times, which is positively thrilling, as is Lenny White’s L’s Bop, which is performed at an even faster pace. McBride’s bass sound is huge, it had the floorboards shaking (in a good way) on his solo in Bird’s Parker’s Mood while Potter absolutely wails the blues. Pat Metheny’s James is one of the highlights with its strong melody, while in a more laid back vein, Potter plays soprano on a gorgeous version of James Williams Alter Ego and smoky tenor on Irving Berlin’s They Say It’s Wonderful.

Bands like New Jazz Underground are showing Generation Z that the trio format is fresh and exciting. In the hands of Allen, McBride and Potter it sounds absolutely sensational.

Release Date is today, 10 January 2025

from https://ukjazznews.com