Since he arrived in New York City, trombonist
Michael Dease has made his mark on the New York City jazz scene, even though he is still in his twenties. Earning a Bachelors and Master's degree as a part of Juilliard's jazz program,
Dease has worked with bandleaders
Illinois Jacquet,
Slide Hampton,
Wycliffe Gordon, and Wynton Marsalis, among others, while he has appeared on recordings by
Jacquet,
the Charles Tolliver Big Band,
Claudio Roditi, and the
Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Band, in addition to numerous other sessions as a sideman and several dates as a leader. Jazz masters and critics alike have pegged
Dease as one of the most impressive trombonists of his generation and a player of unlimited potential.
Grace is remarkable in its diversity of styles. Working with veteran producer John Lee (who invited him to join the
Gillespie All-Stars), they focused primarily on songs that had not been overly recorded. With
Dease and Lee working together as co-arrangers, they uncover new approaches to each song while recruiting a first-rate rhythm section of
Cyrus Chestnut,
Rufus Reid, and
Gene Jackson, plus a number of special guests.
Bix Beiderbecke's "In a Mist" was penned as a solo piano vehicle, but this updated chart begins in a slow Impressionist setting and evolves into a rollicking post-bop vehicle.
McCoy Tyner's loping "Blues on the Corner" opens with
Dease accompanied by
Rufus Reid's walking bass, gradually simmering its delectable recipe with potent solos by tenor saxophonist
Eric Alexander,
Chestnut, and
Reid.
Dease and his friends dive head-first into
Oscar Peterson's rapid-fire blues "Tippin'," with the leader showing a strong
J.J. Johnson influence in his flawless execution, followed by
Chestnut's rollicking solo and Roy Hargrove's spirited effort. His interpretation of
Herbie Hancock's challenging "Toys" will likely provoke other jazz musicians to investigate this long-overlooked treasure.
Dease plays both trombone and valve trombone (adding harmony in spots on the latter) in the richly textured setting of
Antonio Carlos Jobim's gently swaying samba "Discussao," also featuring
Gillespie bandmate
Claudio Roditi on flügelhorn and guitarist
Mark Whitfield. Another hidden gem from South America is
Ivan Lins' "Setembro," where
Dease's elegant, spacious playing gives the impression of a jazz master active for decades. The trombonist's Juilliard classmate
Sharel Cassity has separate solos on both alto sax and alto flute, adding to the luster of the arrangement.
Dease's breezy "Grace" is the icing on the cake, providing ample proof that this accomplished young trombonist is equally skilled as a composer. Highly recommended! ~ Ken Dryden