Trombonist
Gordon is one of the most promising young jazz trombonists. Another out of the
Wynton Marsalis groups to emerge as a leader,
Gordon is joined by other top modern mainstream young lions as saxophonist
Victor Goines, pianist
Eric Reed, bassist
Rodney Whitaker, and drummer
Herlin Riley. As a technist,
Gordon is quite impressive. He's able to play quick, clean lines, smear notes and phrases in a comedic fashion, or dig deep into bluesy, spirit-driven contexts. Of the six originals he contributes to this 13-selection project, "What?!" is the most hard boppishly pronounced in the
Art Blakey/
J.J. Johnson tradition. "Jolly Jume Jumey" is a happy, fun tune dedicated to his young son; "New 'Awlins," his take on the flavor of a Crescent city theme, is done faithfully but with reharmonized melody, while "Blooz...First Thaingh 'dis Moanin'" and "My God" are based on obvious themes, the former with
Gordon's growling, laughing trombone served on a bed of romping blues, the latter a gospel-derived tailgate shouter.
Gordon is also quite an arranger, overdubbing himself times three on the completely arresting "Mood Indigo," editing out horns and pasting them in discreetly for
Thelonious Monk's "Green Chimneys," or stepping up the pace with
Reed's vibrant piano on "It Don't Mean a Thing." Traditional songs get new clothes as on "St. Louis Blues" which starts off mucho mambo and goes back to standard swinging rhythms at the end, a nice adaptation of a well-used tune. "Amazing Grace," with just
Gordon and
Reed, is done rubato style, quite a nice way of playing it.
Milt Grayson's depth-charged basso profundo vocal chords are featured once for "Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear from Me," while trumpeter
Randy Sandke on "My God" and baritone saxophonist Joe Temperly for the ballad "Beauty's in the Eye" get cameo shots. There's some impressive, well-stated, never-overbearing music coming from a wide range of jazz- and church-derived sources by this group via
Gordon, who easily ranks with
Robin Eubanks and
Vincent Chandler as trombonists to look out for in the years ahead. ~ Michael G. Nastos