Label: Self released, 2023
Personnel - Ben Wendel: saxophone; Ambrose Akinmusire: trumpet; Joel Ross: vibraphone; James Francies: piano; Mike Moreno: guitar; Matt Brewer: bass; Daryl Johns: bass; Jeremy Dutton: drums.
Houston-born drummer Jeremy Dutton has been cutting his teeth on the New York scene playing in several ensembles led by pianists Vijay Iyer, Gerald Clayton and James Francies, as well as vibraphonist Joel Ross. The latter two were hired for Dutton’s promising debut album, Anyone is Better Than Here, whose textured arrangements pull off interesting sonic layers with a clever touch. Over the course of 12 original compositions, Dutton shows an interest in distinctly lustrous sounds while exploring different sonic possibilities.
With a mix of soulfulness and poignancy, “Opening Credits” drifts along a sonic landscape etched with an arresting rhythmic ground. It shifts mid-way, placing Mike Moreno’s softly whispered guitar cries on top of Francies’ atmospheric piano motif. The following number, “Waves”, was written with a music-related quote by vibraphonist Stefon Harris in mind: “you have to get on the wave or you get swept over it”. Acclaimed trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire is not only in charge of the main melody here; he also delivers fast, incisive improvised phrases that trigger apt piano responses. Dutton draws extra color from the kit at the end.
“Mirrors” is a sophisticated ballad announced by guitar and carried on by Ross’ warm vibing and Ben Wendel’s super balanced tenor blows. The saxophonist catapults the energy of “Shores”, whose electric thrills are reinforced with a tempo in disguise and tremolo guitar waves. Yet, the piece feels somewhat embryonic. In turn, the heartfelt “Truman (reborn)”, titled after Peter Weir’s film The Truman Show, tells about the strength required to choose an unknown path. It gets to the point with just a few bare hooks.
Hitting deeper shades with chill-out elegance, “Unfolding”, sounds gloriously uncomplicated but has a lot of work done behind the lines. It ends like a folk dance after providing us with tense saxophone and oblique vibraphone statements. The rhythm section creates a dream-like bed on the kitschy “Closing Sequence”, yet not devoid of syncopation.
Not too polished, not too rugged, these elliptical, winding tunes don’t seem open-ended but have set aside space for improvisation. Dutton demands attention.
Favorite Tracks:
02 - Waves ► 06 - Unfolding ► 10 - Truman