Jalen Baker: Be Still

When studying to become a jazz drummer, students are often exposed to other percussion instruments in the course of their studies and sometimes that results in finding a specialty. That was the case for Jalen Baker, who started experimenting on the vibraphone and has now gone on to be one of the most compelling players around. Be Still is his second album. It follows on from his debut album, This Is Me, This Is Us (Outside in Music, 2021). He is joined by his Houston-based band which has been together since 2019 and comprises pianist Paul Cornish, bassist Gabriel Godoy and drummer Gavin Moolchan.

His compositions for Be Still have been partly influenced by a change of purpose which was brought about by returning to Houston for the first time in seven years. Like many musicians, he took time during the pandemic to evaluate how to balance his life and career; this resulted in a new mindset for putting together the tracks for this album.

The album starts with three Baker compositions. The vibraphone chimes in the opening track, "T'was." This has a soulful melody over multiple driving beats. Baker's speed and precision with the mallets is immediately apparent during his long runs. The pace drops off as bass and piano take over, only for the vibraphone to return over furious drumming from Moolchan. Godoy's bass leads in on the hook for the title track which is picked up by Baker before moving into a multi-layered freer section with Moolchan's inventive drumming again catching the ear. "Lexi's Lullaby" has another good melody, starting with piano and vibraphone interplay, gradually building in intensity.

There is a pulsing intro to Bobby Hutcherson's "Herzog," Baker and Cornish are both relentless and impressive in their solos. Godoy's melodic bass introduces Joe Henderson's "Jinrikisha" which charms, with Baker at his melodic best over Moolchan's light funk drumming. Cornish leads into "There's Beauty In Fear" with dramatic piano which is picked up by the vibraphone as the playing becomes intense in a relentless attack across eight minutes. The energy drops only slightly as "The Light" features vibraphone and bass in conversation over a variety of furious rhythms, The rendition of the final track, "Body and Soul," is inventive but relaxed with vibraphone and bass taking their time.

This is a dynamic and intense album of contemporary jazz. Baker writes good melodies and is a highly accomplished vibraphonist. His supporting cast excels throughout. Perhaps there could be more light and shade in some of the arrangements, some more breathing space to engage with them and let the ideas fully develop, but ultimately this is a showcase for a remarkable and innovative talent.

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