Label: Smoke Sessions Records, 2022

Personnel - Steve Turre: trombone, shells; Emilio Modeste: tenor and soprano saxophone; Wallace Roney, Jr.: trumpet; Isaiah Thompson: piano; Corcoran Holt: bass; Orrion Turre: drums. Guests - James Carter: saxophone; Ed Cherry: guitar; Andy Bassford: guitar; Trevor Watkis: keyboards; Buster Williams: double bass; Derrick Barnett: electric bass; Lenny White: drums; Karl Wright: drums; Pedrito Martinez: percussion.

Making the most of a line-up of veteran and young artists, the masterful trombonist Steve Turre remains faithful to his vision of borderless music, delivering ten pieces, which, impeccably rooted in tradition, take us to different places. Special guests contribute to a diverse repertoire filled with spellbinding musical narratives.

Both the opener “Planting the Ceed” and “Pharoah’s Dance” combine Latin pulses with a modal harmonic spirit. The former piece, a tribute to pianist Cedar Walton (Turre’s former bandmate in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers), also swings confidently with hard-bop melodies atop, whereas the latter, homaging the late saxophonist Pharaoh Sanders and the pianist McCoy Tyner, leans more toward the post-bop side.

The venerated groundbreaking pianist Duke Ellington is also praised with the heartrending “Dinner with Duke”, and his influence is equally detected on “Sweet Dreams”, another beautiful ballad that features Buster Williams on bass and a magnificent saxophone solo by James Carter. An Afro-Latin-infused “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” is the sole standard on the album, whereas the blues presents itself as a dedication to the iconic Harlem’s venue Smoke Jazz Club and its associated record label on “Blue Smoke”. The noticeable guest here is guitarist Ed Cherry, most known by his association with trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie in the last phase of the latter's career.

“Don D.” makes another compliment, this time to Jamaican trombonist Don Drummond. The entirety of the song hinges on the reggae pocket created by the ensemble, in a nice arrangement that spotlights the electric bassist Derrick Barnett, guitarist Andy Bassford and keyboardist Trevor Watkis. “Good People” and “Flower Power” are brought to life with ideas that have antecedents in Turre's previous work. The former is amiable and joyful, propelled by Pedrito Martinez’s percussive skills; the latter sets the perfect atmosphere for the known shell playing of the bandleader, here in direct communication with trumpeter Wallace Roney, Jr. The mature drummer Lenny White plays in both pieces.

Generations wraps up with “Resistance”, whose irresistible trotting groove, rhythmic accents, and Latin vibe culminate in a fine soprano solo by Emilio Modeste, a former member of Wallace Roney Quintet. Turre invests each song with pure musicality, using his compositional strengths as an anchor to explore fascinating sonic worlds to which no jazz lover is indifferent.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Planting the Ceed ► 05 Don D. ► 06 - Pharoah’s Dance

Steve Turre: trombone, shells; Kenny Barron: piano; Ron Carter: bass; Jimmy Cobb: drums + Javon Jackson: tenor sax; Cyro Baptista: percussion.

Steve Turre is probably the most influential trombonist in business within the bop and post bop styles.
For this colorful venture, entitled Colors For The Masters, he got the backing of a truly masterful rhythm section composed of the limitless pianist Kenny Barron, the colossal bassist Ron Carter, and the still-powerhouse drummer Jimmy Cobb. Guest appearances by saxophonist Javon Jackson and percussionist Cyro Baptista facilitate the addition of extra color throughout a body of work that clings to bop, blues, ballads, jazz standards, and Latin/Brazilian grooves.

Turre wrote “Taylor Made” assuming influences from Ray Charles and Art Blakey, two giants in their very own styles, with whom he toured in the 70’s. Obeying to a traditional structure and moving in the direction of the blues, the tune displays a pleasurable swinging groove in addition to joyful improvisations.
With “Quietude”, which translates to quietness, the mood shifts to what the title suggests, and we find solace in Turre’s beautiful melodies, the gentle chords of Barron, the subtleness of Carter’s low notes, and Cobb’s relaxing brushwork.
“JoCo Blues” is another boppish original from Turre written for John Coltrane.

The band embarks on several renditions of classic jazz tunes such as the brisk “Coffee Pot” by J.J. Johnson, an influence and inspiration to the trombonist, Monk’s “Reflections”, which gained the shape of a lullaby, Wayne Shorter’s terrific waltz “United", and the soothing jazz standard “When Sunny Gets Blue”, here enriched through improvisations that found the perfect balance between melody and rhythm. There's also Jobim’s “Corcovado” in which Turre resorts to the conch shells to generate distinct sounds over the Latin vibrancies and Brazilian rhythms.
In the cheerful “Mellow D for RC”, a tribute to Ron Carter, bandleader and honoree traded fours after the soloists have their way. The title track is initially set with a modal approach that shifts into a hasty swing with Latin touches.

Turre has all the reasons to be proud of his new album. The same way he honors the jazz masters, he’s certainly also honored for having their support to create great music. In truth, he’s a master himself, who continues to color with freshness the traditional jazz forms.

Favorite Tracks:
01 – Taylor Made ► 02 – Quietude ► 07 – Colors For the Masters