MARQUIS HILL — Composers Collective : Beyond The JukeBox (review)

MARQUIS HILL — Composers Collective : Beyond The JukeBox album cover Album · 2024 · Nu Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
js
Trumpeter Marquis Hill is one of several current jazz artists who is mapping future paths for jazz by looking back to jazz’s African roots. Marquis takes those roots and mixes them with current trends in DrumnBass, neo-soul, hip-hop and modern jazz and creates some of the more happening directions in music today. His latest album, “Composers Collective: Beyond the Jukebox”, utilizes not only his current band, but also an all-star cast of collaborators, many of whom share Marquis’ vision for future jazz.

Opening track, “A Star is Born”, lays down Marquis’ blueprint, African rhythms driven by DnB beats and presented with complex structures and chord changes that avoid any sort of cliché’. The presence of Joel Ross on tuned percussion drives home that permeating African flavor. The DnB rhythms continue for the next couple tracks until we hit, “The Cool”, a neo-soul instrumental that features Hill on layered echoed trumpet lines. Although modern synthesized sounds are used for good effect throughout the album, they tend not to get in the way of the instrumentalists and their prowess on their given instrument.

The many instrumental hip-hop and neo-soul tracks sprinkled through out the album take on an almost library music type presence. “Beyond the Jukebox” is just brimming with useful soundtracks for those looking for a current hip sound. Marquis doesn’t mind reminding us that he can still swing with the best and “Smo Melody …” gets into some high energy post bop with Caroline Davis guesting on saxophone. On “Life Days’, Marquis gets into some African fusion as he trades licks with guitarist Jeff Parker. Vocalist Samora Pinderhughes delivers a classic heart breaking ballad while Christie Dashell sings on neo-soul groove number, “Chef’s Kiss”. “Beyond the Jukebox” is driven with cool modern beats, but this album is much more than another ‘acid jazz’ groove fest. Marquis has serious compositional chops that he puts to good use with arrangements that will hold your interest and keep you guessing as to what is coming up next. Want to hear what is new in jazz, this album is a good start.
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