Reviewed: 2019-06-06
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Trombonist Ranelin blends post-Coltrane post bop with Afro-Cuban rhythms and harmonies. With this collection spanning two decades, Ranelin delivers an album firmly planted in these traditions, paying tribute to a number of his influences and showcasing the breadth of his abilities. His arrangements are absolutely vibrant; they jump off the page and out of the speakers in an adventurous yet compelling way that is reverent to their sources yet has a vibe all its own. Many leading lights are featured in the different line-ups.
If You Like: Jonathon Finlayson, JJ Johnson, McCoy Tyner, John Coltrane
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
DISC 1
***1/ Freddie’s Groove (7:33) – trombone starts with big blast> uptempo jam> trombone solo> tenor sax solo> soprano sax solo> piano solo> percussion solo> uptempo ham> crescendo end
*2/ Horace’s Scope (5:30) – piano/drums start> uptempo jam> trombone solo> tenor sax solo> piano solo> bass solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
**3/ This One’s For Trane (8:43) – piano starts> slow jam> soprano sax solo> midtempo jam> trombone solo> soprano sax solo soars> trombone solo> uptempo jam with flute over the top> slow fade
4/ Living A New Day (4:33) – piano starts with cascading notes> pause> uptempo funky jam> male spoken word over the top> guitar solo> spoken word over jam> trombone solo> uptempo jam> slow fade
*5/ Blue Bossa (6:14) – bass/piano starts> slow jam> trombone builds to midtempo> piano solo> guitar solo> midtempo jam> slow fade
**6/ Metamorphosis (7:30) – drums start> uptempo mysterious jam with trombone punctuating> wild trombone solo>
*7/ A Year In Elmina (5:49) – trombone starts> slow mysterious jam> haunting trombone solo> midtempo space jam> piano solo> midtempo jam> slow fade (applause)
8/ Close Encounters (5:47) – bass starts> midtempo jam> tenor sax solo> trombone solo> midtempo jam> fade
9/ Shades Of Dolphy (8:34) – bass/drums start> uptempo jam> spoken word band intro> uptempo jam> slow fade (applause)
DISC 2
**10/ In Search Of The One (8:48) – drums/piano start> uptempo jam> piano solo> uptempo jam> tenor sax solo> uptempo jam> trombone solo> fade
*11/ Moorish (3:49) – drums start> midtempo brassy jam> rocking trombone solo> uptempo jam> slow fade
*12/ Perserverance 2019 (9:48) – drums/percussion solo starts> bass kicks in> subdued uptempo jam> trombone solo> tenor sax solo> uptempo jam> slow fade
**13/ Full Moon (6:33) – (spoken word count)> piano starts> uptempo jam> swinging piano solo> tenor sax solo> trombone solo> uptempo jam> slow fade
*14/ Excursion To Fantasy (8:38) – piano starts> uptempo jam> trombone solo> uptempo jam> slow fade
***15/ Spiritual Vibrations (7:28) – bass starts> midtempo jam with intersecting instruments> trombone solo> flute solo> uptempo jam> slow fade on didjeridoo
*16/ How Do We End This Madness (7:11) – piano/vibes start> subdued uptempo jam builds in volume> trombone solo> gorgeous vibes solo> subdued uptempo jam> slow fade
*17/ Fantasy Vibrations (6:45) – drum solo starts quietly> subdued midtempo off-kilter jam> trombone solo> uptempo jam soars> increases in volume & intensity> slow fade
**18/ Black On The Nu (5:51) – drums start> swinging uptempo jam> rocking trombone solo> tenor sax solo> uptempo jam> quick stop