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Christian McBride: Prime
It is a brave opening to Christian McBride's New Jawn's second release because it is not the easiest way to attract the casual jazz listener. But one would surmise that McBride & Co are not aiming at the smooth jazz fan, but rather at a listener willing to spend time with a record and hear its complete musical story. As the album progresses, the quartet of bass, drums, sax and trumpet offers a varied mix of sounds and tempos that should appeal to a wide audience, so the choice of "Head Bedlam" as the opener is curious.
Cut two is the title song, an upbeat piece with saxophonist Marcus Strickland and trumpeter Josh Evans playing in tandem and then soloing. In the third cut, "Moonchild," we are met with the low registers of a bass clarinet and the upright bass playing a somber but appealing melody, then joined by the trumpet. "Lurkers" opens with McBride bowing his upright and drummer Nasheet Waits joining him in evoking the mystery of something or someone lurking beneath the surface. "The Good Life" is another upbeat and melodic track driven by the sax with a nice bass and drum duo midway. Overall, the album tells a musical story well worth listening to.
Track Listing
Head Bedlam; Prime; Moonchild; Obsequiois; The Lurkers; The Good Life; Dolphy Dust; East Broadway Rubdown.
Personnel
Album information
Title: Prime | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Brother Mister Productions
Tags
Christian McBride
Album Review
Cary Tenenbaum
Prime
Brother Mister Productions
Sun Ra
New Jawn
Marcus Strickland
Josh Evans
Nasheet Waits
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