Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Carlos Vega: Art of the Messenger
Carlos Vega: Art of the Messenger
ByVega and his very Messenger-esque/Charlie Parker-ish quintetthe leader's tenor sax and Victor Garcia's trumpet blowing hard in the front line display a momentum similar the Art Blakey's, with a bit more flexibility in the soloing. The disc opens with the title tune, a modern day hard bop romp, followed up by the Latin- tinged "Bird's Word," proving that Vega had a hard time escaping the Charlie Parker influence, in the best way possible. The rhythm sectionpianist Stu Mindeman, bassist Joshua Ramos and drummer Xavier Breakerlays down a foundation of rumbling jubilation, Garcia's trumpet blows red hot; and Vegas's sax is cyclonic.
On a set of all originals from Vega's pen, "Ode To the Patient Observer" slows the torrid pace of the set's first two tunes, easing the sound into a relaxed reverie, while "Across The Ocean" celebrates the pure joy and exuberance of upbeat hard bop, with Vega smoldering hard out of a sharp-edged group interplay, followed by trumpeter Garcia, who spits out a wandering sentence of crisp one word syllables before blowing into a long, fluid lines approach.
Art Of the Messenger celebrates the hard bop sound and Art Blakey's influential Jazz Messengers with a vibrant twenty-first century pizzazz, employing a quintet that competes with the best of the legendary drummer/bandleader's bands.
Track Listing
Art of the Messenger; Bird's Word; Ode to the Patient Observer; Across the Ocean; Don't Forget to Ask; Something to Say; Oh; The Owl; Who Cooks for You; Heed the Call; Serenata for Bela.
Personnel
Carlos Vega
saxophone, tenorVictor Garcia
trumpetStu Mindeman
pianoJoshua Ramos
bassXavier Breaker
drumsAlbum information
Title: Art of the Messenger | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Origin Records
< Previous
Solar Session
Comments
About Carlos Vega
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
Related Articles | Concerts | Albums | Photos | Similar ToTags
Carlos Vega
Album Review
Dan McClenaghan
Art of the Messenger
Origin Records
Charlie Parker
Art Blakey
Victor Garcia
Josh Ramos