Christian Scott On Tour With Stretch Music
The hip hop-flavored “Sunrise In Beijing” opens the new “Stretch Music” album by trumpeter Christian Scott who is one of the most important young musicians around at the moment. Flutist Elena Pinderhughes gives this track, which lives from the drum pad backbeat of Corey Fonville, an exotic twist. Christian also plays the sirenette and reverse flugelhorn and on “TWIN”, the handclaps and repetitive motif build into a mesmerizing cut.
With “Perspectives”, he moves toward a haunting, creeping atmosphere with muted horn and exhilarating synths and Rhodes by Lawrence Fields. And “West Of The West” has some fierce guitar playing by the exuberant Matthew Stevens. The track is a great example of 70s fusion brought to a modern-day aesthetic with a cool bass solo by Kris Funn and marvelous drum work.
Elena is back on “Liberation Over Gangsterism”, a fascinating midtempo groover which backs off in a cute way. And “Of A New Cool” again plays with breakbeats, hip hop and has Christian play some very lyrical lines to make way for Braxton Cook on alto. Warren Wolf is featured with a fascinating vibes solo. The whole track seems to run a marathon with only little breaks in between. And then there’s “Tantric”, similar to the former “Perspectives” it flows dreamlike and vulnerable and creates an intriguing atmosephere.
With “The Last Chieftain”, Christian goes the jazz-rock meets fusion route again with the ebullient force of Matthew Stevens returning. There are also some hints of the Gil Evans/Miles Davis collaboration here in parts of the arrangement, reminding me vaguely of “Sketches Of Spain”. In total, a refreshing journey with lots of new paths.
Christian is on tour with “Stretch Music”. Don’t miss:
10/30 Hamburg, Überjazz Festival
10/31 Lausanne, JazzOnze Fest
11/01 Zurich, Moods
11/03 Paris, New Morning
11/04 Munich, Unterfahrt
11/05 St. Gallen, Gambrinus
11/07 Eindhoven, So What’s Next Festival
11/08 Rotterdam, Bird
11/10 Groningen, De Oosterpoort
11/11 Foggia, Teatro Giordano
11/12 Bologna, Bravo Cafe
11/13 Perugia, Jazz Club
11/14 Istanbul, Salon Jazz Club
11/16 London, Rich Mix
11/18 Dublin, The Sugar Club
11/19 Dublin, The Sugar Club
11/20 Stockholm, Fasching
11/22 Vilnius, Mama Jazz Fest
