Marcus Printup: The New Boogaloo

The work "Boogaloo" makes me think of the Lou Donaldson soul jazz of the 1960s on Blue Note. Marcus Printup resurrects this term for his debut recording for the Nagel Heyer label and gives it a bit of a dusting off and updating. The New Boogaloo is not a blues blowing session in 4/4 meter. It is an intelligently conceived and deftly executed collection of originals with two standards thrown in, performed by the stars of the new generation of jazz. Mr. Printup, a 35-year-old converse, Georgia native was discovered in 1991 by then Wynton Marsalis pianist, Marcus Roberts. Roberts invited Printup to perform on his Blues for a New Millennium recording. Printup also did time with Marsalis as part of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, appearing on the Pulitzer Prizing winning Blood On The Fields and jazz ballet, Jump Start and Jazz. He has previously recorded for Capitol and Blue Note, through which he released the very fine Nocturnal Traces .

Here, Printup has upped the ante with some smart composing and choices in sidemen. Wycliffe Gordon is always a safe bet as a sideman as there is nothing he cannot do on the trombone in any idiom. Walter Blanding sits in the tenor chair, while the piano chair is shared between Eric Lewis and George Colligan.

Do you detect a trend here?

All sidemen are associated with Wynton Marsalis. And, as always, once they leave the nest, all former Marsalians are free to swing as hard as they wish, however they wish. Case in point, "Bullet Train" is a complex funky tome with a bit of a rock back beat that would not be found on a Marsalis recording. It rocks as does Printup on his opening solo. The title piece is much in the same vein, while the ballads like "Sardinian Princess" and "The Weeping Prince" are angular and dissonant in character. "Soul Waltz" is a beautiful dance with a melody that recalls the Swing era. "In a Sentimental Mood" and "Speak Low" are thoroughly investigated standards not smothered in the reverence that many of this generation are subject to. The New Boogaloo is a very fine release by the talented Marcus Printup, leaving this writer anticipating his next release.