Adrian Cunningham: It's About Time

Australian-born, New York-based multi-instrumentalist (and vocalist) Adrian Cunningham brings impressive creds to his latest recording, It's About Time, raising the number of albums under his leadership well into double figures. And as if playing an array of instruments were not enough, Cunningham also writes, having composed nine of the album's songs and arranged all of them. The exceptions are George Gershwin's "Summertime" (from the folk opera Porgy and Bess) and the traditional "Battle Hymn of the Republic."

Cunningham shows his versatility by playing tenor sax on half a dozen numbers, clarinet on two others, flute and "electric" clarinet on one each, and even piano on the closing "Irish Goodbye." The group he leads is essentially a quartet; while trombonist (and mentor) Wycliffe Gordon is listed as a member, he plays only on "Battle Hymn" and the group's opening number, the aptly titled "Song for Wycliffe." On the others, Cunningham leads a sturdy trio comprised of pianist David Kikoski, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Clarence Penn.

After some rough-and-tumble licks and exchanges on "Song for Wycliffe," global warming seems to take hold, as this "Summertime" is far more heated and humid than usual, leading to a pleasant cooling-off interlude, Cunningham's ballad "Julia" (written for his wife). Cunningham moves to flute—which he plays quite well—on the loose-limbed "Free Flight" and to clarinet on the spunky "Fake News" and tenderhearted "For Those We've Lost" before returning to tenor on three numbers, leading to the charming "Irish Goodbye." While the last of them, "Battle Hymn," may seem somewhat out of place in a jazz context, Cunningham, Gordon and their mates wade right in, playing with gusto and making the anthem an album highlight.

"Irish Goodbye," on which pianist Cunningham "accompanies" clarinetist Cunningham, is a warm and lyrical finale. Although absent there, Kikoski, Nakamura and Penn are solid elsewhere, enabling Cunningham to achieve his goals with a minimum of concern. Even with Gordon on the sideline most of the way, It's About Time is a better-than-average session and another feather in Cunningham's already admirable cap.