Review:
by Thom Jurek
At the Crossroads, saxophonist James Carter's third disc for the Emarcy, is the first for the label with his Organ Trio, which has been together since 2004. Produced by Michael Cuscuna, it's an indelible portrait of Detroit's historic jazz scene, envisioned in the present while looking ahead. All trio members -- Carter, organist Gerard Gibbs, and drummer Leonard King, Jr. -- either reside or come from there. This disc also showcases Carter's development from his earliest days shedding in the Motor City to his current status as a jazz virtuoso. Numerous guest appearances -- from Detroit and elsewhere -- underscore this. It kicks off in true B-3 grit-and-gravy mode with a twist on "Oh Gee," a knotty bop burner that is one of several tracks with guitarist Bruce Edwards; its head is played at a breakneck tempo, the trio's interplay and Carter's solo in the middle move in and out of the honking and bar walking tradition of Detroit's Hastings Street clubs, but pushes it into its post-bop terrain. "JC Off the Set," by Gibbs, is a ballad written in response to Carter's earlier composition "JC on the Set," and the organist is impressive with his innovative arpeggios and his sense of swing. King's "Lettuce Toss Yo' Salad" is the wildest cut here; a variation on straight-ahead hard bop, it takes intense turns by Carter squawking and squalling with King, making his cymbals and snare sound simply greasy with Gibbs' sprinting bass runs and instinctive fills. Big Maybelle's "Ramblin' Blues" is one of three vocals by veteran Detroit singer Miche Braden. With Carter playing flute and alto in addition to tenor, fellow Detroiter Vincent Chandler on trombone, and trumpeter Keyon Harrold, Braden gets her soul-blues on. She also shines on the gospel nugget "Tis the Old Ship of Zion," and reveals her shining jazz chops on "The Walking Blues." Other highlights (though there isn't a weak moment here) include a reading of B-3 jazz innovator Sarah McLawler's tune "My Whole Life Through," which is shimmering, pure blues-jazz with some gorgeous work by Gibbs and King; Jack McDuff's "Walking the Dog," and the closing read of Julius Hemphill's "The Hard Blues," which features guitarist Brandon Ross. Nocturnal, funky, and and slow for a long cut -- it clocks in at nearly ten minutes -- the interplay between Carter and Ross with Gibbs' rumbling bass notes is exciting before things get really wild. When the tune moves outside, King holds it down tight as the other three try to send it over the cliff. At the Crossroads delivers what its title promises: a portrait of the Organ Trio at the point where they look back at B-3 jazz history and move it ever forward.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/at-the-crossroads-mw0002215999
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Revisión:
por Thom Jurek
At the Crossroads, el tercer disco del saxofonista James Carter para el Emarcy, es el primero para el sello con su Organ Trio, que lleva junto desde 2004. Producido por Michael Cuscuna, es un retrato indeleble de la histórica escena jazzística de Detroit, concebida en el presente mientras mira hacia el futuro. Todos los miembros del trío -Carter, el organista Gerard Gibbs y el baterista Leonard King, Jr.- residen o proceden de allí. Este disco también muestra la evolución de Carter desde sus primeros días en la Ciudad del Motor hasta su estatus actual como virtuoso del jazz. Numerosas apariciones de invitados -de Detroit y de otros lugares- lo subrayan. Comienza en el verdadero modo B-3 grit-and-gravy con una vuelta de tuerca en "Oh Gee", un nudoso quemador de bop que es una de las varias pistas con el guitarrista Bruce Edwards; su cabeza se toca a un ritmo vertiginoso, la interacción del trío y el solo de Carter en el medio se mueven dentro y fuera de la tradición de tocar la bocina y caminar por el bar de los clubes de la calle Hastings de Detroit, pero lo empuja a su terreno post-bop. "JC Off the Set", de Gibbs, es una balada escrita en respuesta a la composición anterior de Carter "JC on the Set", y el organista impresiona con sus innovadores arpegios y su sentido del swing. Lettuce Toss Yo' Salad" de King es el corte más salvaje aquí; una variación del hard bop directo, toma intensos giros de Carter graznando y chillando con King, haciendo que sus platillos y redoblantes suenen simplemente grasientos con las carreras de bajo de Gibbs y sus rellenos instintivos. El "Ramblin' Blues" de Big Maybelle es una de las tres voces del veterano cantante de Detroit Miche Braden. Con Carter tocando la flauta y el contralto además del tenor, su colega de Detroit Vincent Chandler en el trombón y el trompetista Keyon Harrold, Braden consigue su soul-blues. También brilla en el tema gospel "Tis the Old Ship of Zion", y revela sus brillantes habilidades jazzísticas en "The Walking Blues". Otros momentos destacados (aunque no hay ni un solo momento débil) son la lectura del tema de la innovadora del jazz B-3 Sarah McLawler "My Whole Life Through", que es puro blues-jazz con un magnífico trabajo de Gibbs y King; "Walking the Dog" de Jack McDuff, y la lectura final de "The Hard Blues" de Julius Hemphill, que cuenta con la participación del guitarrista Brandon Ross. Nocturno, funky, y lento para un corte largo - llega a casi diez minutos - la interacción entre Carter y Ross con las retumbantes notas de bajo de Gibbs es emocionante antes de que las cosas se vuelvan realmente salvajes. Cuando la melodía se desplaza hacia el exterior, King la mantiene firme mientras los otros tres intentan lanzarla por el precipicio. At the Crossroads ofrece lo que su título promete: un retrato del Organ Trio en el momento en que miran hacia atrás en la historia del jazz B-3 y lo hacen avanzar.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/at-the-crossroads-mw0002215999
1 - Oh Gee
2 - JC Off The Set
3 - Aged Pain
4 - The Walking Blues
5 - My Whole Life Through
6 - Walking The Dog
7 - Lettuce Toss Yo' Salad
8 - Misterio
9 - Ramblin' Blues
10 - Come Sunday
11 - 'Tis The Old Ship Of Zion
12 - The Hard Blues
Credits:
Drums – Leonard King Jr
Organ – Gerard Gibbs
Saxophone – James Carter
Recorded February 8 & 9 2011, Avatar Studios, NYC
Label: Universal – B0016081-02, Decca – B0016081-02, EmArcy – B0016081-02
Released: 2011
Genre: Jazz
Style: Soul-Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/13263897-James-Carter-Organ-Trio-At-The-Crossroads
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