Mark Kavuma (trumpet/composer); Mussinghi Brian Edwards, Kaidi Akinnibi (tenor sax); Artie Zaitz (guitar); David Mrakpor (vibes); Reuben James (piano/organ); Dechanel Gordon (piano); Michael Shrimpling (double bass); William Cleasby (drums).
(Review by Lance).
Back in the mists of time when I was at school, one of the teacher's idea of punishment for failing to submit homework on time was to sentence the offender to write procrastination 100 times. By the time I left school I knew the meaning of procrastination!
It took no less than the lead article in the October edition of DownBeat for me to realise that I still hadn't learnt my lesson. I had once again been guilty of procrastinating. However, this time it wasn't my inability to explain Boyle's Law (The pressure of a given mass of an ideal gas is inversely proportional to its volume at a constant temperature) but my failure to review this excellent album by Mark Kavuma which has been hovering around the top of the heap since July.
Sometimes it happens that way, sir, I sit down with the best of intentions then another CD arrives and then another and so on - well that's my excuse except, in this case, there's no excuse - this banger is a cracker!
Kavuma, 26, composed all 7 tracks and blows fiery trumpet throughout.
Dear KD isn't dedicated to Ms Lang but to trumpet legend Kenny Dorham. On a visit to New York, Kavuma listened to a lot of KD's recordings which, along with the Big Apple ambience, inspired the tune.
The Bangor Factory, says the leader, is what the band is all about - good times and dance music, a celebration of joy. Spot on!
Mussinghi, written with his inspirational musical 'father' in mind, is tender and langrous with the subject laying down some gorgeous tenor sax lines,
Lullaby to a Fading Star reveals the anguish Kavuma felt at losing his first girlfriend - emotions everyone can share on or off the record.
Big Willie relates to the moment at Trinity when Kavuma first heard Cleasby leading to the start of an ongoing musical relationship. It's a quartet track with Zaitz and Mrakpor adding the icing.
The Songbird isn't a vocal but the lyricism of MBE on tenor suggests it could be.
Mrakpor - no prizes for guessing - is a tribute to the vibist and, as he does on most of the tracks, ticks all the boxes as well as adding a few of his own.
According to the DB article they're back in the studio in October so, I promise there will be no procrastination on that one.
A gem!
Lance
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