Rodney Jordan: Memphis Blue

On Memphis Blue, acclaimed bassist Rodney Jordan bows deeply to his Tennessee hometown via a series of charming and largely blues-tailored themes that are designed to trace the city's unique character and heritage. Jordan wrote four of them, including the album's title song and animated tributes to trumpeter Roy Hargrove and drummer Art Blakey.

Jordan has the first two minutes, forty-five seconds of "Memphis Blue" to himself before pianist Louis Herivaux and drummer Quentin Baxter lend their able hands and tenor saxophonist Mark Sterbank sets the melodic compass on a seductive slow blues that captures the essence of Jordan's design. By then, Jordan's dexterous quintet has caught the ear with trumpeter Melvin Jones' mild and graceful opening number, "The Storm Will Pass," Gigi Gryce's powerful "Minority," and Jordan's Latin-shaded "Escapatoria" and frolicsome "Hargrove."

A venturous albeit enigmatic version of the standard "Autumn Leaves" follows "Memphis Blue" and precedes the album's last two numbers, pianist Mulgrew Miller's tasteful and swinging "Small Portion" and Jordan's buoyant "The Art of Blakey." Sterbank is eloquent on both tunes, as he is elsewhere, while Jones, Herivaux and Baxter weigh in with perceptive statements of their own. Jordan, meanwhile, teams with Heriveaux and Baxter to solidify a formidable rhythm section.

Jordan and his able crew ensure smooth sailing with barely any rough seas on Memphis Blue, a sunny and charming snapshot of the bassist's lovely hometown.

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