Search - Steve Turre :: TNT (Trombone-N-Tenor)

On his previous CD, In the Spur of the Moment, Turre used three different pianists to explore soul, modal, and Latin material. For his first quintet recording, the trombonist matches up with three front-ranking tenor saxophonists--James Carter, Dewey Redman, and David Sanchez--and goes even further afield, invoking influences and associates from Ray Charles to Roland Kirk and Eric Dolphy. Carter is present for four tracks and they cut the broadest swath. Stanley Turrentine's "Back in the Day" is soulful, medium-tempo, bop blues that climaxes in an improvised duet between Turre's restrained trombone and Carter's raucous tenor. "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" is a playful excursion in the world of Ray Charles's secular gospel, while "Eric the Great" has the band pressing the free-jazz envelope in tribute to Dolphy. Sanchez, in contrast, is booting and direct, whether invoking his Latin roots on "Puente of Soul" or playing straight-ahead on "E.J.," Turre's homage to Elvin Jones. The biggest surprise, though, is Dewey Redman. On "Stompin' at the Savoy," he and Turre take a long look at the Chick Webb anthem with the senior avant-gardist touching on early influences like Lester Young and Dexter Gordon. "Dewey's Dance," though, is driving, Spanish-tinged modal heat. For all the variety, tenor fireworks, and input from two excellent rhythm sections, it's Turre who makes the strongest impression, imparting consistent musical and emotional focus. He's a consummate trombonist, from vocalic mute work to crisp bop articulation and warm balladry, and he feels his material, seemingly concentrating all his attention on the phrase at hand. --Stuart Broomer