Personnel - Donny McCaslin: tenor and soprano saxophone; Ingrid Jensen: trumpet; Bruce Barth: piano; David Ambrosio: bass; Victor Lewis: drums.
Civil Disobedience, a formidable quintet led by American bassist, composer, and activist David Ambrosio—a strong presence on the New York scene for more than 30 years—focuses on the current state of America while honoring social change through nonviolent action. And what better way to do it than through music? The quintet clicks into place, performing five relatively obscure Blue Note compositions from the late 1960s by vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, drummer Joe Chambers, saxophonist/flutist James Spaulding, and composer-saxophonist Harold Land.
Reviving an irresistible, Art Blakey-like drive, Hutcherson’s “For Duke P. (aka XYZ)”, recorded in 1968 but not released until 1999 on The Kicker, opens the album in infectious minor mode and swinging fashion, evoking hard bop at its most contagious. Written for pianist Duke Pearson, the piece launches its improvisational section with a vibrantly melodic bass solo, leaving ample room for timely responses from veteran drummer Victor Lewis. The powerhouse frontline of tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin and trumpeter Ingrid Jensen injects indomitable energy, guided by faultless narrative logic, superior articulation, and sharp motivic instincts.
Spaulding’s “A Time To Go” is an aching, dreamy rubato ballad dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., sophisticatedly harmonized by pianist Bruce Barth, with Ambrosio’s bass lines providing the essential connective tissue. “Poor People’s March”—written by Land for the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign—flows in an animated 3/4 meter, unified by bright unison lines and inspired improvisational passages in which every member stretches out, creating a compelling sense of musical democracy.
The curiosity these compositions inspire is matched by their elegance, and the two pieces by Chambers exemplify that balance perfectly. “Irina” is a post-bop delight with a distinctly Wayne Shorter-esque aura. Introduced by Lewis’ marching snare, this exquisite modal number unfolds naturally through shifting meters and nuanced harmonic movement. On soprano saxophone, McCaslin injects tension and excitement, his notes rising and falling with resolute purpose, while Barth’s majestic keyboard sweeps guide the piece toward its conclusion. The other Chambers composition, “Ankara”, was, like “Irina”, recorded in 1968 but only released in 1980 on Hutcherson’s Patterns. Introduced by Ambrosio, who later settles into a finely crafted groove in seven, the tune arrives wrapped in a subtle exoticism, thriving on Lewis’ tickling hi-hat work and the inspired improvisations of Jensen and Barth.
With confidence and tenacity, Ambrosio’s Civil Disobedience—featuring superbly chosen repertoire and committed performances throughout—makes a great debut, emerging as a social and musical manifesto of the highest order.
Favorite Tracks:
01 - For Duke P. ► 03 - Irina ► 05 - Ankara
