Michael Dease - All These Hands (2017) [Official Digital Download 24/88]

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Michael Dease - All These Hands (2017) [Official Digital Download 24/88]

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Michael Dease - All These Hands (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/88,2(44,1) kHz | Time - 65:54 minutes | 1,03 GB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Artwork: Front cover

Trombonist, Michael Dease is a mainstay in Wynton Marsalis s Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra/Museum/Educa- tional Empire. His newest album, All These Hands, reflects the Lincoln Center mission: it is a journey through the early history of jazz, with compositions dedicated to the major American cities that helped the music flourish. While the concept could come across as gimmicky, the execution is thorough and the players are swinging. Sometimes, the album s theme comes across strong and direct, like on the opener, a grooving number named for the Creole Country of Louisiana. Dease s prodigious trom- bone technique is in full force here (it is throughout the al- bum, to punishing effect), and the rhythm section includ- ing veteran drummer Lewis Nash pulls it off with aplomb. Other pieces, like the slave tribute Gullah Ring Shout and the upbeat Memphis BBQ and Fish Fry, capture their subjects with unique instrumentations and lively improvisa- tions. But other pieces have less personality there is not much musical material linking the self-explanatory Down- town Chi-Town and D.C. tribute Chocolate City to their source material. Still, this is a fine sometimes great album of contemporary straight-ahead jazz, with fine playing from all involved. Special commendations go to elegant pianist Re- nee Rosnes and the tasteful guest-starring trumpeter Etienne Charles, who conjures a decent facsimile of Dizzy Gillespie on the bebop tribute Good and Terrible.

Gathering a hand picked bunch of all stars to make the trek with him as he brings his sound and vision to fruition, Dease and his bunch make a history of jazz recording that has no dust on it and sounds much more looking forward than looking backward. A dazzling set that's striking in it's ability to say something new here, this is more than a pleasingly swinging set that cooks. A solid work throughout, this is thoughtful jazz that doesn't hesitate to cut to the chase and make it's point. Exactly what the doctor ordered for that afternoon when you want to be alone with some jazz and let it roll. Killer stuff.