Derek Douget: Perpetual Motion

Saxophonist Derek Douget's roots run deep in Louisiana: a native of the city of Gonzales, a degree in Jazz Studies at The University of New Orleans, the musical diretor of The Ellis Marsalis Quintet, performing stints with Nicolas Payton, Jason Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis and Roland Guerin.

Perpetual Motion is Douget's first outing as a leader, and the Marsalis influence is evident right from the start, on the opener, "G.O.A.", a post-bop cooker—think early Wynton, compostionally—that features some glowing trumpet work by Nicolas Payton. Douget's alto blowing has an assured feel to it, a bit rough hewn in sound, fiery, a nice juxtaposition to Payton's in-total-control trumpet work that does, indeed, as they say, invite comparisons to Pops.

Seven of the disc's nine tunes are Douget originals, with Tad Dameron's "Hot House" thrown in, cooking; and then there's a guest slot for the sax man's old teacher and current quintet mate, Ellis Marsalis, who sits in on piano on his song, "Friendships", for a duet with his old pupil.

The ten minute plus "Madness" might be the disc's highlight—dark in tone, with angular piano work by Jonathon Lefcoski, and inventive soprano blowing by Douget. A song that churns in like rumbling black storm clouds off the Gulf—and if anyone hasn't noticed, Jason Marsalis has developed into a helluva drummer.

A fine Marsalis-influenced debut by Derek Douget.

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