Mood Swings in Bloomington, MN

At first, it might seem like a calculated stylistic detour -- hot young
hip-hop
-influenced trumpeter teams up with a Hammond organ player (
Radam Schwartz
) who's equally fresh but strictly from the old school. But 2003's
Mood Swings
is not
Wynton Marsalis
-style dilettante posing of the "I remember
Jimmy Smith
" variety; there is nothing retro or nostalgic about this album, although it's firmly rooted in '60s-style organ combo
jazz
and mostly draws from the
hard bop
songbook. The opening track, a frenetic 20-notes-a-second take on
Donald Byrd
's
"The Injuns,"
is as forward-looking as anything
Gunn
has done. Although
ballads
like
Benny Golson
's weightless, lovely
"Park Avenue Petite"
allow
to explore
Miles Davis
' gentle tonal palette, it's more aggressive performances like
"S. Crib"
and the downright funky
"Twice Around"
that really show off
's abilities. ~ Stewart Mason