Trumpeter
Corey Wilkes
has established himself as one of the best creative improvising trumpeters -- if not the best -- in the modern era. His stunning work with
the Art Ensemble of Chicago
and
Kahil El'Zabar
's bands has cemented his place as the rising star on his instrument. This debut recording for
Wilkes
reflects his interest in the rhythm & blues style, both retro and contemporary. The presence of keyboardist
Robert Irving III
has a lot to do with how the music is conceived rhythmically, having been a nephew and bandmate in the late-period groups of
Miles Davis
. But as a composer and arranger,
holds close allegiance to the wonderfully inventive horn charts written by
Herbie Hancock
during the time of his combo that recorded the groundbreaking
Mwandishi
.
is also respectful of elders like
Langston Hughes
, as he adapts
"The Trumpet Player"
with the words of
Hughes
recited by
Miyanda Wilson
into a bluesy stew stirred by bassist
Junius Paul
. Hip-hop funk identifies the light swagger of
"Sonata in the Key of Jack Daniels,"
while the hip, funky title cut internally shimmers via the Fender Rhodes of
Irving
, with an additional 11-minute live version plus vocals included as a closing track. The merging of old and new school is most evident on the lower light groove of
"Touch,"
quite reminiscent of
Benny Golson
's classic
"Killer Joe,"
while
"Remy's Revenge"
is a harder-edged two-chord modal number and
"Ubiquitous Butterfly"
is an out-and-out stomper. With alto saxophonist
Jabari Liu
and tenor saxophonist
Chelsea Baratz
,
conjures the breezy yet potent
sound on the bright funk of
"Return 2 Sender"
and the neat tick-tock rhythms urging
"Searchin'"
onward. There's a sole R&B pop tune sung by
Dee Anderson
in a manner similar to
Fontella Bass
about a dirty old man, and seems unnecessary. A CD with mixed results that still holds much promise for the exceptional
, this purposeful recording may very well find a commercial audience well outside of the one
already owns. ~ Michael G. Nastos