Armor of Pride
Black Art Jazz Collective (jazz ensemble)
The music brings back the feel of the Jazz Messengers and the Miles-Shorter group, but given a strong modern twist and performed with a soulfulness..... inspiring straight-to-the-point strong...
Armor of Pride
Black Art Jazz Collective (jazz ensemble)
Purchase product
The music brings back the feel of the Jazz Messengers and the Miles-Shorter group, but given a strong modern twist and performed with a soulfulness..... inspiring straight-to-the-point strong...
About
The Black Art Jazz Collective's mission statement celebrates African-American cultural and political icons. At the core is a modernism that conjures up the classic bands of Art Blakey and acoustic Miles Davis.
But with the contemporary soul-fuelled solos and locked-in rhythm the band is more likely to launch into a counterpoint riff or the spacious funk of hip-hop than the svelte lines of a classic walking bass. The Black Art Jazz Collective delivers strong original tunes and purposeful, form-hugging improvisation that keeps things looking forward rather than back.
And with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt on ebullient form, and saxophonist Wayne Escoffery's muscularity contrasting with the tenderness of James Burton III's trombone, the focus never becomes diffuse or wavers.
Personnel: Wayne Escoffery (tenor saxophone), Jeremy Pelt (trumpet), James Burton III (trombone), Xavier Davis (piano), Vicente Archer (bass), Johnathan Blake (drums)
Contents and tracklist
Awards and reviews
November 2018
The music brings back the feel of the Jazz Messengers and the Miles-Shorter group, but given a strong modern twist and performed with a soulfulness..... inspiring straight-to-the-point strong solos from Pelt and Escoffery in particular. BAJC could become a very important band.
October 2018
As a soloist, Pelt is in top form, firing off shapely phrases and thoughtfully constructed solos with a full, burnished tone. Blake also stands out, not only as an anchor, but for a rainbow of textures. Escoffery, alternately rough-edged and piping, changes patterns with expressive surprise. Davis swings compellingly on “Pretty,” and Burton’s golden tone and impressive articulation are welcome throughout. It’s a nice touch that bassist Vicente Archer solos on the first cut, a nod to fundamentals that also carry a message. Welcome, new jazz messengers.
