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"Echoes of Ethnicity"
Derrick Gardner is a freelance trumpeter, arranger and composer from
Chicago. Gardner has played alongside jazz legends such as Dizzy
Gillespie and has had his music performed by “The Count Basie
Orchestra”. Gardner’s sextet “The Jazz Prophets” has been playing
for over twenty years. Their latest release, Echoes of Ethnicity,
showcases ten arrangements of original compositions and standards.
Echoes of Ethnicity features the work of “The Jazz Prophets” plus two.
Brad Leali on alto saxophone and Brandon Meeks on bass join the group
on this recording. This eight-piece ensemble allows for more interplay
between musicians than is possible in a big band, while maintaining
some of the big band sound. The challenge Gardner’s group contends with
is the balancing of musical freedom versus control.
The opening track “4Newk” blasts off with an up tempo jagged unison
melody in a groove that shifts between a latin feel and a swing
beat. “Afro and Cubans” is arranged with interesting sonorities.
“Mercury Blvd” is one of the more beautiful tracks on this
release. Gardner’s trumpet playing and a closely harmonized horn
section drive this R&B style tune. Throughout this recording
percussionist Kevin Kaiser adds to the groove with afro-Cuban style
percussion.
Derrick Gardner and the Jazz Prophets +2 often choose density and
elaborate arrangements over spontaneity and looseness on Echoes of
Ethnicity. However, sometimes the tradeoff is worth it. This ensemble
uses its larger size to create dramatic climaxes and a wide variety of
timbres and textures that is difficult for smaller jazz groups to
reproduce.
-Jarvis Raymond
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