The second album with Marsalis’ work on the vibraphone front and center is available nationwide on the local Basin Street Records label.
As regular readers of this space know, the youngest musical brother in the Marsalis musical dynasty is best known as a drummer. But for the last few years his compositional talents, which I likened to the work of a film composer after his first release, have been showcased on the vibes.
The songs on the album take us on a journey through complex arrangements combining hard-swinging sections with more melodic interludes, unexpected turn-arounds, and an occasional introspective outro.
Songs like “The Man With Two Left Feet” and the title track play with the trad jazz idiom in a more contemporary style.
What’s clear throughout the album is the unspoken musical communication that has developed between the band members after years of playing together. I particularly enjoy the drum work of David Potter. Will Goble is on bass and Austin Johnson is on piano.
Jason Marsalis will be touring across the country in support of the album including stops at some of the finest jazz clubs including the Jazz Showcase in Chicago (11/20-23) and SF Jazz in San Francisco (12/4-7). His other tour dates are here.
