TOM HARRELL — TRIP (review)

Album · 2014 · Post Bop

4.5/5 · 2015-01-14
Matt

It has been a “Trip’ for Tom Harrell after commencing his professional career playing trumpet in Stan Kenton’s band in 1969. He recorded his first album as a leader in 1976 and currently has 27 albums under his belt including “Trip” His site claims that he has participated in 260 recordings but perhaps they may include arranging as well which is just another bow from Tom’s talent. Since 2007 Tom has been working primarily with a Quintet excepting the previous release to “Trip” which was “Colors Of A Dream” where a 2 Bass Sextet were the band’s make up with the regular, saxophone, piano and drums included. With “Trip” he has chosen a Quartet comprising saxophone, bass, drums and Tom’s trumpet comprising the band’s line up with the piano being dropped..

The quartet comprises Mark Turner on saxophone who himself has released his own album currently on ECM, “Lathe Of Heaven” within the same year of this release and he is considered one of today’s top saxophonists in Jazz with a list of musical associations that could fill this page. Ugonna Okegwo is on bass and the only surviving member from Tom’s previous Quintet albums and prior to Tom Harrell primarily worked with Jackie Terrasson . Adam Cruz is on drums and another highly experienced musician having played with Chick Corea, Chris Potter, Steve Wilson, David Sanchez and been a member of The Danilo Perez Trio.

The album opens with “Sunday” being mid tempo with Ugonna’s bass right up front providing a wonderful time and structure with Adam’s drums supporting things beautifully and filling the composition which gives Mark Turner and Tom Harrell a wonderful layer to play over with their solo’s. Every composition included in the album is written by Tom Harrell and “Cycle” which follows is precisely that with the musicians seeming to circle within the tunes structure and reminiscent of ‘Orbits’ a Wayne Shorter composition but still it is Tom’s beast excepting for the circular pattern comprising the compositions make up. The album’s main focus is the suite that Tom Harrell has included, “The Adventures Of A Quixotic Character” which includes six different compositions of Tom’s interruption of the Cervantes novel. “The Ingenious Gentleman” is first and the suite’s longest piece running at just over 7 minutes with Adam Cruz up first on drums providing quite an interesting solo and opening to the number with Mark’s saxophone, Tom’s trumpet and a bass solo from Ungonna following. The arrangement is superb as the rhythm section drops volume with the horns and each solo is clear and distinct or stands alone from the drums and bass but all come back in a seamless manner for the following short pieces, “The Duke and the Duchess”, “Enchanted” comprising a beautiful solo bass from Ungonna, “Sancho and Rocinante” with the entire band as Mark Turner leads on saxophone with him still remaining for the fifth slowed down piece “The Princess” keeping the entire suite seamless with a marvellous up and down solo followed by Tom’s usual trumpet perfection. “Windmills” is the Suite’s last composition with a slight increased timing with the drums and a clarity of sound from Adam’s kit. Tom and Mark take a call and response with their input with the notes becoming higher and more frantic but they still hold quite a bit back for the last piece of the stunning suite. Things though do not drop all the same with the following, the beautiful “Coming Home” the album’s superb ballad. “Coastline”, After The Game Is Over” and “There” are the three remaining tracks from the album with all being enjoyable and exquisitely played compositions and all different.

I have heard quite a few new ones from 2014 with “Trip” being my personal favourite. Tom Harrell has created an absolute Jazz jewel with this one by dropping the piano which provides less clutter enabling the respective musicians to come through as clear as a bell with their various inputs. Not to mention the beautiful compositions, arrangements and superb trumpet playing from him. Great Jazz and highly recommended. Tom also appeared on Niels Vincentz’s, “Is That So” another of these piano less Quartets this year, if you are looking for something else from him in 2014.