Steve Turre: Generations

Generations is a wonderful exploration of the bop and post-bop era. Steve Turre both looks back to his roots while encouraging the next generation of musicians to find their voice. It's a position he's eminently qualified for, considering the artists he has played with and his tenure as a long-time jazz educator.

Trombone players have a unique place in the sound created in a small jazz band. Their parts helped blend and define any given melody. On this record, Turre's arrangements are always fluid and interesting, creating a backdrop to allow the soloists a foundation to build on.

Turre's role as an educator (Julliard faculty 2002-03, 2008-present) has afforded him the ability to both teach and mentor students and to choose some to be part of his touring bands. This band includes his son Orion Turre on drums and the rising trumpet star Wallace Roney Jr. Lenny White, Buster Williams and James Carter are the elders who guest on a few tracks.

The project was to begin recording in April 2020, but COVID happened. The silver lining was it allowed time for Turre to expand his vision and give the youngsters more time to rehearse and grow. It all came to fruition at the end of February 2022 when the album was recorded during a one-day session. It consists of 10 songs (nine written by Turre) and clocks in at 70 minutes.

The album opens with "Planting The Ceed," which immediately sets the tone. A pulsing piano riff introduces the melody from the three horns before the soloing begins. "Dinner With Duke" is a gorgeous ballad tribute to the master and shows Turre's lyrical playing abilities, later interspersed with Roney Jr.'s muted trumpet. This is followed by "Blue Smoke," a straightforward blues tribute to his label for four years, featuring the stellar bass of Buster Williams and guest guitarist Ed Cherry.

This varied album includes Latin grooves ("Good People") and a reggae tribute ("Don D.") written for Skatalites leader and trombonist, Don Drummond. The one standard is a beautiful reading of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes." Later, Turre shows off his mastery of the conch shell in the gentle, airy "Flower People" which features a lovely, waterfall cascading piano motif. The album closes with "Resistance" a memorable bop composition harkening back to the heyday of the classic Blue Note label sextet lineups.

Turre's band is strong throughout. They are all very talented and play with a confidence that belies their youth. Particularly impressive is Isaiah J. Thompson on piano, while Wallace Roney, Jr. is simply a revelation (his bloodlines also include his mother, the pianist Geri Allen).

Steve Turre has had a remarkable career. He played with Rahsaan Roland Kirk at the age of 20, (where Kirk introduced him to conch shells as a musical instrument) to gigs with Ray Charles, Art Blakey, Woody Shaw, Mongo Santamaria and many more. He's released over 20 albums as a leader and has been part of the Saturday Night Live house band since 1985.

It is beautiful to see a player of Turre's stature continue the tradition of passing on his experience, strength and hope to a younger generation. Just as Turre had a history of playing with artists who mentored him, he's helping other artists find their path in the expanding continuum of jazz. Generations is a worthy addition to that legacy.

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