Drummer/composer Blake's Pentad follow up their previous Blue Note album, Homeward Bound, with Passage, an album dedicated to the life and legacy of Johnathan Blake's father, jazz violinist John Blake Jr.
An album of well-constructed heads played by five musicians working as one.
Wilkins, who has just hit the top spot in the alto sax section of the DB Critics Poll*, wails in the best contemporary Blue Note tradition. Fast-fingered flights of fantasy contrasting with melancholic emotion on slower numbers such as Tears I Cannot Hide, a tune composed by drummer Ralph Peterson Jr. Blake's mentor.
Joel Ross, one of today's front runners on vibes stays ahead of that particular pack with fine solos built upon the legacy of Milt Jackson. Douglas composed and soloed on the introduction to A Slight Taste. Ross and Wilkins also have a not so slight taste on this one.
Virelles forté seems to be Latin jazz so I'm guessing he composed Tiempos (the press release is somewhat vague as to who composed what).
As for Blake, by a process of elimination I've worked out that he was responsible for: Lament For Lo; Muna and Johna's Playtime; Groundhog Day; Out of Sight, Out of Mind and West Berkely St. All fine compositions solidly and sympathetically backed up by Blake's drumming.
From day one, all those years ago, Blue Note stood for quality. Changes of ownership, new directions, notwithstanding, it still does. Lance
Available August 11.
(Note from press release): Passage presents the quintet at an elevated level of consciousness and artistry. A celebration of life and longing, the album pays tribute to those who have touched Blake’s life and shaped his music. And the best way for Blake to honor their spirits and preserve their legacy is to cultivate an interconnectedness among listeners and his fellow artists: “This record really shows the level of trust we’ve achieved together. Pentad is a brotherhood — five entities coming together to form one sound.
*Wilkins also won in the Rising Star Jazz Group and Composer categories.
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