Before, Now, & After

Reviewed: 2018-03-23
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Mason is a veteran of the Jazz At Lincoln Center orchestra. Here he takes jazz in a different direction with his quintet, including his wife on vocals Together, all five musicians make for a fluid and fascinating unit. Working with a mixture of originals and tweaked classics connected to themes of influence, engagement, and extension through personal growth, the quintet truly finds itself in its element. Joe Lovano guests on #5 & 6.
If You Like: JJ Johnson, Steve Turre, Flora Purim
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Before, Now & After (10:43) – piano starts> slow jam with female scat vocal swings to midtempo> trombone, piano solo and swing uptempo> female song slows down to fade
*2/ Caravan (7:52) – drums start> midtempo jam hesitates, then swings forward> swinging solos from guest trumpet & drums/piano> midtempo jam> slow fade
3/ Vulnerable (7:15) – piano starts> slow jam> trombone solo> bass solo> slow jam with female scat vocals> fade
*4/ Passion Dance (8:24) – piano starts> midtempo jam with female scat vocals> guest trumpet solo swings uptempo> trombone solo> uptempo jam with female scat vocals slows to fade
5/ & Then There Were <3 (3:22) – uptempo jam> sax solo> trombone solo> quick fade
*6/ Resolution (7:52) – piano starts> uptempo jam> piano solo> midtempo jam> sax solo> wild trombone solo> midtempo jam> fade
7/ In A Sentimental Mood (4:31) – piano starts> slow song> trombone solo interspersed with song> fade
*8/ Let Me Ask You Something (7:06) – piano starts> slow song> pause> uptempo song> trombone solo> swinging piano solo> scat singing over trombone> uptempo jam> slows to midtempo song then swings to uptempo jam & song> slow fade