Plays The Music Of Ellis Marsalis

Reviewed: 2018-05-27
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: the leader and composer reinvestigates his own material with his working quintet. These guys, all of whom are decades younger than Marsalis, bring their own fresh energy and flavor to the session. The 14th track is an untitled bonus.
If You Like: Duke Ellington, Wynton Kelly, Les McCann, Cannonball Adderley, Clifford brown
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ 12’s It (4:13) – horns start> midtempo jam> sax solo> trumpet solo swings uptempo> piano solo> uptempo jam> fade
2/ The Garden (5:17) – drums/piano start> midtempo jam> piano solo> bass solo> midtempo jam> fade
*3/ Relaxin’ At Madaro (7:59) – sax starts> slow jam> trumpet solo> sax solo> piano solo> slow jam> slow fade
*4/ Tell Me (6:41) – drums start> midtempo jam> piano solo swings uptempo> sax solo> trumpet solo wails> drum solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
*5/ Orchid Blue (5:00) – piano starts> slow jam> trumpet solo> sax solo> piano solo> slow jam> fade
6/ Friendships (3:10) – piano starts> slow jam> trumpet solo> slow jam> fade
7/ The ELM Music Company (interlude) (1:02) – trumpet starts> short midtempo jam> quick fade
*8/ Dippy (6:44) – bass starts> funky midtempo jam> sax solo> trumpet solo> midtempo jam> quick stop
9/ Chapter One (5:55) – horns start> slow jam> sax solo> piano solo> slow jam> quick fade
*10/ Nostalgic Impression (6:03) – piano starts> uptempo jam> piano solo> midtempo jam> trumpet solo swings into wild uptempo jam, then mellows to midtempo> crescendo end
*11/ Basic Urge (6:43) – horns strt> slow jam> trumpet solo> sax solo> piano solo> slow jam> false stop> crescendo end
12/ Crescent City Summer (4:30) – horns start> slow jam> trumpet solo> piano solo> slow jam> slow fade
*13/ Zee Blues (5:05) – piano/horns start> fast jam> trumpet solo> sax solo> piano solo> drum solo> uptempo jam swings wild & fast> piano solo> crescendo end
*14 (bonus track) (3:52) – horns start> uptempo jam> piano solo> uptempo jam> fade