Marshall Gilkes Waiting To Continue

Marshall Gilkes
Waiting To Continue
Alternate Side Records

Trombonist, composer, and bandleader Marshall Gilkes is back with a trio recording. He has an impressive resume, including being a member of Maria Schneider's Orchestra, being part of Colombian harpist Edmar Castañeda's trio, and working in New York's thriving Latin music scene. Originally this album was to be titled "Play Date," but because of the pandemic and "after several months at home, living in limbo, "Waiting to Continue" proved to be a more suitable title."

This album was initially supposed to be recorded in April 2020. With the cancellation of tours for what was supposed to be a busy first half of 2020, the pandemic led him to be home with his family. Gilkes was able to finally able to get into a recording studio in early July. They recorded this album under social distancing guidelines with Clarence Penn on drums and Yasushi Nakamura on bass. Most of the music was written before the pandemic, with two of the 11 compositions penned during the quarantine.

The title track was written during the quarantine, and Gilkes states, "That piece is about the situation that 2020 brought upon us. I think all people, especially musicians, are wondering when we'll be able to move forward and are feeling unsure about what's on the other side of this." He brought trombone chorales he recorded at home to begin and conclude this track in a sober mood and state the melody leading to his marvelous improvisation with Nakamura and Penn providing a floating backing. Gilkes displays his considerable technique and a strong lyrical sense with his brushed tone and fluid playing. Penn dazzles with a deft touch and his soft rhythmic accents.

Another tune, "Archie Theme," was hatched during his wife's pregnancy and is built over a spirited motif with Penn crafting a Latin-tinged rhythm for Gilke's buoyant solo. "Longing For Home" has another lovely melody written before the pandemic. It reflects the prospect of being apart from the family for a lengthy time. Nakamura displays his touch and his improvisatory approach. The following composition, "Taconic Turns," has his twisting solo and the step forward, step backward, groove echoing driving on the Taconic Parkway,  

One remains impressed by the music Gilkes and his trio plays throughout this album. Whether a straight-ahead groove for "The Nod" or the gorgeous ballad "Anya's Tune" (another number with the prerecorded trombone chorale)," Gilkes displays plenty of imagination and nuance with Nakamura and Penn complementing and adding to the performance. "Play Date," a contrafact of "Cherokee," played at a leisurely pace with Gilkes' solo building the performance's intensity. The rhythm duo really hit the groove on a bouncy blues, "The Usual."

As sterling as Gilkes, Nakamura, and Penn play here, a trombone trio has a somewhat limited tonal palette. The tracks' programming provides a variety of grooves and song types. This helps maintain a listener's attention for the hour or so of music here if they wish to listen to this in one sitting. It contributes to the listener's enjoyment of this first-rate recording. It is available at bandcamp, https://marshallgilkes.bandcamp.com/track/waiting-to-continue.

I received a download from a publicist. Here is a selection from "Waiting to Continue."

Samuel Torres Alegria

Samuel Torres
Alegria
Blue Congo Music

The latest album by Torres, the Columbian percussionist/composer/bandleader. About this CD, his fifth, Torres says "Alegria, which means "happiness" or "joy," presents eight original compositions that captivate and inspire." He elaborates, "in these somewhat dark and divisive times we need light and joy, and we need to share these things with each other to combat hate. On this project he has assembled a band of Michael Rodriguez & Alex Norris (trumpet & flugelhorn); Marshall Gilkes (trombone); Will Vinson (alto & soprano saxophones); Joel Frahm (tenor & soprano saxophones); Ivan Renta (baritone saxophone, bass clarinet & flute); Luis Perdomo (piano & Fender Rhodes); Ruben Rodriguez (electric bass), and Pablo Bencid (drums). Torres himself plays (congas, bongos, kalimba, log drum, cajon, maracas llanera, djembes, talking drum, güiro, timbal, tambourine, clave, shekere, shakers & EFX.

Torres not only has quite an ensemble assembled, but his compositions inspired the superlative performances. Among the eight stirring performances are "Salsa, Jazz y Choke," which certain will get pulses elevated. Salsa Choke is a Pacific Columbian urban music style that incorporates a Cuban pilon groove. There are excellent solos from trombonist Gilkes, pianist Perdomo, and Torres on congas, along with the punchy, spirited ensemble playing. Then there is "Barretto Power," A boogaloo dedicated to Torres' hero Ray Barretto with ear-catching solos from Ivan Renta on the baritone sax and drummer Bencid. "Little Grasshopper" is a feature for Torres on the Kalimba. It has a simple melody over a 6/8 rhythmic pattern with more fine ensemble playing. In addition to Torres on kalimba, the selection features Renta's lyrical flute. The title track is a spirited Cumbia which Torres also states has "elements of South American indigenous music." There are ebullient solos by pianist Perdomo and alto saxophonist Will Vinson here.

The other performances on "Alegria" are similarly full of high energy as well as scintillating solos and ensemble playing. Samuel Torres and his ensemble have put forth some top-notch Latin Jazz.

I received a review copy from a publicist. Here is Samuel Torres recently performing "Barretto Power" at Dizzy's in NYC.

Carlos Henriquez Dizzy Con Clave: Live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

Carlos Henriquez
Dizzy Con Clave: Live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola
RodBros Music

Henriquez, the bassist with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for the past twenty years, leads an octet on an exciting Afro-Cuban tribute to Dizzy Gillespie that was recorded live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center in late 2017. His band consisted of trumpeters Michael Rodriguez and Terrell Stafford, trombonist Marshall Gilkes, tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana, pianist Manuel Valera, drummer Obed Calvaire, and congas/vocalist Anthony Almonte.

It goes without saying that Dizzy Gillespie helped create the 'Cubop' era inspired by trumpeter Mario Bauza and percussionist Chano Pozo. Henriquez devised the superb arrangements of Gillespie's compositions, whether bebop classics like "A Night in Tunisia" or "Groovin' High," or the Afro-Cuban classics such as "Manteca" and "Con Alma" that are performed so powerfully here.

"A Night in Tunisia" certainly gets this recording off to a hot start with Melissa Aldana and Michael Rodriguez both soloing hot against the volcanic rhythm section with a thunderous percussion segment. Muted trumpets open "Groovin' High," before Rodriguez takes off with a blistering Afro-Cuban accented solo before Henriguez displays his facility and imagination before the performance transitions into a hot mambo band romp as Almonte taking the lead vocal with the horns blasting. Like the entire recording, it is an exhilarating contemporary synthesis of modern jazz and the traditional Cuban rhythms.

Then there is the exciting performance of "Bebop," that showcases Stafford's explosive trumpet followed by Aldana's sizzling tenor sax. "Manteca" is taken perhaps at a slightly less blistering pace, but the horn ensemble explodes, and the rhythm percolates like a Yellowstone geyser with Rodriguez brilliant on trumpet here. "Con Alma" is given a lush arrangement and taken at a comfortable pace with all four horns soloing along with pianist Valera. Valera and trombonist Gilkes stand out with their romantic, lyrical playing.

"Dizzy Con Clave" is a wonderful recording by a superb band with compelling performances of the terrific inspired arrangements by the Henriquez that greatly honors the memory and legacy of Dizzy Gillespie.

I received from a review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the March-April 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 383).  Here is a video of Carlos Henriguez playing "Bebop" Live From Dizzy's Club Coca Cola.