Label: Sunnyside Records, 2021
Personnel - Thomas Heberer: trumpet; Ingrid Laubrock: tenor and soprano saxophone; John Hébert: acoustic bass; Michael Sarin: drums.
The German-born, New York-based trumpeter Thomas Heberer was active during the Covid lockdown, composing some new tunes that go pretty well with some previously developed material. The resulting work comes together in The Day That Is, a 10-track album of originals featuring collaborators he considered to be ideal for his musical purposes. He called forth the improvising talents of fellow countrywoman and lauded saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, who joins him in the frontline, as well as the rhythmic facility of bassist John Hébert, with whom he plays in the Angelica Sanchez Nonet, and Michael Sarin, a fellow teacher at Maine Jazz Camp, whose work (especially with Thomas Chapin in the 90s) left a mark on him.
Marching and rocking by turns, and sometimes simultaneously, the title cut opens the album with angular traits in the theme, after which we're presented with wide-ranging conversational trumpet and incredibly danceable fleet soprano movements.
The topics and motivations are diversified. “Erg Chebbi” was inspired by a camel ride in Morocco and infuses a sultry warmth in that picture. In turn, “Seconds First” was influenced by the compositional ingenuity of veneered pianist Andrew Hill, examining a combination of hushed reverie and controlled disharmony. And the well-oiled “One For Roy”, which features extended techniques and quirky noises by the horn players, was composed for The Nu Band and dedicated to its late member, the trumpeter Roy Campbell, whom Heberer replaced in 2014.
“Caro Pook” offers a plain yet tightly channeled rock pulse delivered by Sarin, who also articulates energetically at an early stage on “Mapping the Distance”. Here the group plays with the meter, and the soloing exuberance of Laubrock on soprano is highlighted, suddenly bringing Steve Lacy to mind.
The sweet-tempered “The Sleeping Bag Unfolds” evolves with nice melody and solos, with Heberer and Laubrock employing their specific timbres and idioms to stimulate the senses.
This album doesn’t disappoint.
B
Favorite Tracks:
01 - The Day That Is ► 03 - Seconds First ► 10 - Mapping the Distance