Rahsaan Barber: Six Words

The Six Words that epitomize woodwind artist Rahsaan Barber's fifth recording as a leader came to him via trumpeter Wynton Marsalis: "There is power in this music." And as Barber affirms on this tasteful studio date, aside from power there is depth and refinement as well.

Barber commands a tight-knit sextet, so much so that it is hard to believe that most of them had never played together before gathering in Nashville, Tennessee in December 2020 to record this album. Of course, the lack of familiarity does not include the Barbers, Rahsaan and his trombone-playing twin brother Roland, who have shared a lifelong love of music and have performed on the same stage on numerous occasions.

As Rahsaan Barber wrote and arranged every number, any inclusive appraisal must begin there, and the over-all conclusion is mixed. He certainly writes well enough, but (here at least) without the chromatic hallmarks that are needed to capture and hold one's interest from start to finish. While there is an ample amount of admirable music, all of which is well-played by the ensemble, the lion's share is more prosaic than seductive.

On the other hand, as noted, everyone is alert and responsive, and Rahsaan's charts are viable and well-drawn. He is impressive on every horn (alto, soprano and tenor sax), as are brother Roland (especially on the robust finale, "Open Sesame"), trumpeter Pharez Whitted and pianist Matt Endahl. One head-scratcher is why Roland is the lone soloist on Rahsaan's fond tribute to the late trumpeter Roy Hargrove; Whitted would have been the logical choice there. But it is Rahsaan's gig...

Six Words are hardly enough to recap the album, which is by and large even-tempered, devoid of highs or lows—both a blessing and a curse. In other words, everything is good but not good enough to stand apart from many comparable endeavors whose purpose is the same and whose outcome is reliable but short of unique.

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