Cerulean Canvas

Reviewed: 2017-12-14
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Irby is a long-time member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Here he has assembled some of the top players in the field into one group, many of whom lead their own ensembles. Together, they pull from deep roots to create an excitng new sound. Wynton Marsalis guests on #8 & 10. Several original compositions by Irby & members of the band plus some stellar covers.
If You Like: Cannonball Adderley, Paul Desmond, Charlie Parker, WC Handy
*1/ Racine (9:33) - bass starts slow & swings into uptempo jam> trombone solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> fade to slow tempo jam & fade
*2/ Blues For Poppa Reed (6:28) - piano starts> slow strut swings to midtempo> horns swing out> sax solo swings uptempo> bass solo> midtempo jam goes quiet, then swings out & stops
3/ From Day To Day (9:29) - piano starts> slow tempo jam> sax solo swings to midtempo jam> sax solo> midtempo jam> bass solo> jam> piano solo> jam> fade
*4/ Willie's Beat, a.k.a. The Sweet Science (7:43)- drums start> uptempo jam> rocking trombone solo> swinging sax solo> cooking piano solo. drum solo. uptempo jam> fade
5/ Contemplation (7:25) - trombone starts> slow tempo jam> sax solo> trumpet solo> fade
*6/ Smile Please (6:32) - sax starts> midtempo jam> piano solo swings uptempo> sax solo slows, then swings to midtempo jam & quick stop
*7/ Blue Twirl: A Portrait of Sam Gilliam (9:28) - bass starts> slow tempo jam with intriguing horns & piano interplay swings to midtempo jam & crescendo> bass solo swings to uptempo swinging jam> sax solo> trombone solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
*8/ John Bishop Blues (9:08) - sax starts> slow tempo jam> gorgeous sax solo> trumpet solo> piano solo> slow jam> slow fade
9/ Sweet Georgia Brown (2:41) - drums start> fast tempo jam> sax solo> fast jam> quick stop
*10/ SYBAD (7:46) - horns start> uptempo jam> trumpet solo> sax solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> quick fade