Search - Idrees Sulieman :: Now is the Time

Beautiful music by unsung trumpeter

Roger Berlind | NY, USA | 01/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD contains 8 beautiful performances by unsung trumpeter Idrees Sulieman. I discovered Sulieman on a Coleman Hawkins album, "The Hawk Flies High", and was very impressed by his playing, especially his trumpet solo on the tune "Juicy Fruit" which he started by holding a single note for 1 minute. It might sound gimicky, but it really worked in the context of that long 11 minute piece.



That CD was recorded in 1957. "Now is the Time" was recorded almost 20 years later in 1976. Sulieman still sounded great and was playing trumpet, flugelhorn, and even alto sax at that time (although he did not play sax on this CD). The album consists of 7 tunes, one of which has 2 takes. Sulieman wrote 4 of them: "Mirror Lake", "Saturday Afternoon at Four", "The Best I Could Dream", and "Care Free". The name of the album derives from Charlie Parker's "Now's the Time" which is also included along with tunes by Duke Jordan and Horace Parlan.



Sulieman is accompanied by Cedar Walton on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. You might recognize Cedar Walton from some Jazz Messenger albums and Billy Higgins from some Lee Morgan albums. Sulieman and the rhythm section all sound loose and relaxed and seem to have enjoyed recording this CD very much. Sulieman sings on both trumpet and flugelhorn (the latter on "Care Free").



Now is the time for you to buy "Now is the Time" by Idrees Sulieman!"