Brian Lynch: Tribute to the Trumpet Masters

Spheres would prove to be a hard act to follow, owing to its elaborate and far-ranging implications, yet Lynch’s second set of quartet recordings as documented on the newly issued Tribute to the Trumpet Masters is far from being any kind of letdown. In fact, it not only acts as a solid homage but also testifies to Lynch’s talent as a lead voice. There have been relatively few records in the jazz annals sporting just a trumpeter with rhythmic backing (standouts for this reviewer would have to include Kenny Dorham’s Quiet Kenny and Ted Curson’s Fire Down Below ). The instrument is a demanding one and it’s often easier to include a saxophone in the front line to balance out the leadership chores. But as he did on Keep Your Circle Small, Lynch once again proves that the quartet setting can be a viable one for trumpet.

Lynch has also shrewdly avoided just picking out tunes by the trumpeters he’s chosen to spotlight. Out of the nine cuts on the disc, over half of them are Lynch originals and each one sports a title that lays claim to the artist being feted. The most impressive of these are the sprightly “Woody Shaw” and the propulsive bossa of “Tom Harrell,” which recalls such Harrell compositions as “Moon Alley” and “Sail Away.” Freddie Hubbard’s “Eclipse” provides a magnificent ballad forum for Lynch and both Booker Little’s “Opening Statement” and Lee Morgan’s “Search For the New Land” are valuable pieces seldom if ever done by modern day players.

Lynch is extraordinary throughout in both lead and solo statements, with motivated backing coming from pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Essiet Essiet, and drummer Carl Allen. In fact, this may be Miller’s finest work of recent vintage; he absolutely tears it up on the aforementioned “Woody Shaw.” So while there may be a few years of delay between releases from Lynch, they’re always worth the wait and his recent Sharp Nine dates have yet to disappoint.