Staying true to his reputation as a post-
Lester Bowie
-type jazz trumpeter,
Corey Wilkes
and his band
Abstrakt Pulse
take cues from hard and post-bop, creative improvised music, and populist latter-period
Art Ensemble of Chicago
sounds. Alternating between tuneful free music and spontaneously composed snippets, the formidable
Wilkes
and his quintet keep the music moving forward with vitality and a keen sense of drama. This is an intriguingly put-together group with veteran drummer
Isaiah Spencer
borrowed from the
Ernest Dawkins
-led
New Horizons Ensemble
, along with newcomers
Kevin Nabors
on tenor sax, guitarist
Scott Hesse
, and bassist
Junius Paul
. The opening
"First Mind"
gives you a good idea of what is to come, as the band leaps off a post-bop platform in mixed 5/4 and 4/4 meters. A struttin' and shouted-out attitude reflective of
Bowie
identifies the very hip
"Levitation,"
while the outstanding track
"Visionary of an Abstrakt"
is placed firmly in the straight-ahead hard bop jazz tradition. More of the humorous, sarcastic
/
AEC
stance is brushed on thick in loose, soulful layers for
"Villa Tiamo,"
while
"Chasin' LeRoy"
is your deep-rooted black-bottom Chicago blues swing, with
and
Nabors
chatting along in call-and-response mode. The whiny and moaning free
"SICK JJ,"
the languid, light, and comforting implied waltz
"Rain,"
and the 11-minute title track with probing bass and scorching horns all add plenty of contrast. The short made-up pieces act like bridges and nothing more, though they are somewhat compelling and definitely spirited.
seems like a chameleon, not bound to a single style, and is comfortable in either this context or with a more commercial approach. He's no doubt a brilliant player, young yet wise beyond his years, and while scratching the surface, displays plenty of grit, street smarts, and a serious fun attitude, marking him as one of the most promising trumpet players in the 2000s. This is a very interesting recording that deserves repeat listenings to savor and enjoy. ~ Michael G. Nastos