Label: Blue Note Records, 2021
Personnel - Terence Blanchard: trumpet, synth; Fabian Almazan: piano, keyboards; Charles Altura; guitar; David Ginyard: bass; Oscar Seaton: drums + Turtle Island Quartet [David Balakirshnan: violin; Gabe Terracciano: violin; Benjamin von Gutzeit: viola; Malcom Parson: cello].
American trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard emerged in the mid 80s as a fresh face on the scene with collaborative albums with saxophonist Donald Harrison. He is widely known for his work for film (Harriet, Inside Man, Da 5 Bloods), noteworthy post-bop albums (Wandering Moon, 2000; Bounce, 2003) and for his visionary E-Collective band with which he releases now his third outing - following up Breathless (2015) and Live (2018) - on Blue Note. The current lineup includes the longtime collaborator pianist Fabian Almazan, guitarist Charles Altura, bassist David Ginyard (replacing Donald Ramsey) and drummer Oscar Seaton. On this record, they are joined by an efficient quartet of strings led by violinist David Balakirshnan.
At once challenging and accessible, Absence is a shining salute to saxophonist Wayne Shorter, including readings of five of his tunes with formidable arrangements from Blanchard and Almazan. The latter did a great job on two Weather Report classics - “The Elders”, which, layered with modernist conviction, denotes enthusiastic exchanges of phrases, figures and details between trumpet, piano and guitar; and “When It Was Now” where a curious, sweet-sounding jazz-funk is revealed. The string quartet is impeccably integrated and even stretches by itself on the suite-like “The Second Wave”, brought with vivid expression and references to other songs.
Ginyard contributes the title track, whose sensationally pictorial expression resonates with punchy beauty, as well as the peculiar “Envisioned Reflections”, which confers a pneumatic experience with a slack beat. In turn, Altura’s “Dark Horse” promotes variety by flowing liquidly with absence of strings.
Blanchard’s soulful, bold brass (always infused with synth effect) yearns for the sky on his intoxicating “I Dare You”, a heavier, more aggressive and perfectly accented piece where energetic post-bop meets rock posture. It comes loaded with prismatic synth ostinatos and tinged with acid lines. The title of this track was culled from a phrase by Shorter: “jazz means I dare you”. Furthermore, the Collective’s takes on Shorter’s harmonically rich ballads “Fall” and “Diana” are comforting, reassuring and generously tender.
The groove of the rhythm section permeates an album cresting with cosmic melodies. Blanchard’s new album rewards those who look for modern-sounding contexts.
B+
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Absence ► 02 - The Elders ► 05 - I Dare You