Unsung Heroes: A Tribute To Some Underappreciated Trumpet Masters Vol. 1 (Hollistic MusicWorks)
Brian Lynch
Released May 2011
DownBeat Five-Star Review
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=RWmR2U6NcNA&list=OLAK5uy_l0zfQnqIhCVaIihhp8tqUTgdvnzkMU8tE
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0jlTNsH8wHJKQvHutd9xJf?si=iYh6ngTdQqa6tZSGr52m7A
About:
“Unsung Heroes” pays tribute to and features the compositions of jazz trumpet giants such as Joe Gordon, Tommy Turrentine, Idrees Sulieman, and other greats who have flown under the radar of popular acclaim despite their artistry and influence on players such as myself. This expansive project, the maiden effort from my new venture Hollistic MusicWorks, comprises no less than 19 different compositions; a full 2 CDs of swinging music featuring the Unsung Heroes band of myself, alto sax giant Vincent Herring, new tenor sax star Alex Hoffman, veteran piano whiz Rob Schneiderman, top call bassist David Wong, and swinging young drummer Pete Van Nostrand, with conga king Little Johnny Rivero added on selected cuts.
The multiple subjects of this collection of unpretentious, straight ahead, and hopefully satisfying jazz music are artists without which the jazz trumpet tradition would be very much impoverished, yet have seemed to fly under the radar of even many a knowledgeable follower of the music. They are also players and composers that have touched my soul and influenced me in both disciplines. Their notoriety ranges from those generally recognized by the cognoscenti to others almost completely unknown except to the specialist,but they all have one thing in common in that their art has been under appreciated. I hope you enjoy this salute to these Unsung Heroes, only some of many in the rich tradition of our music.
Brian Lynch
Track Listing:
1. Terra Firma Irma (J. Gordon) 8:12
2. I Could Never Forget You (T. Turrentine) 7:30
3. Further Arrivals (B. Lynch) 9:50
4. Saturday Afternoon At Four (I. Sulieman) 8:04
5. Household Of Saud (C. Tolliver) 7:30
6. RoditiSamba (B. Lynch) 7:06
7. Big Red (T. Turrentine) 5:37
8. Unsung Blues (B. Lynch) 7:13
9. Wetu (L. Smith) 7:15
Personnel:
Brian Lynch: trumpet, flugelhorn
Vincent Herring: alto sax (special invited guest)
Alex Hoffman: tenor sax
Rob Schneiderman: piano
David Wong: bass
Pete Van Nostrand: drums
Vicente “Little Johnny” Rivero: congas (3, 6)
Recorded October 12 – 13, 2008 and December 22, 2009 at Knoop Studios, Rivers Edge NJ
Recording Engineer: Manfred Knoop
Mixed by Brian Lynch with assistance from David Darlington
Mix Consultant: Tyler McDiarmid
Session Assistance: Alex Suarez and Alex Minasian
Videography: Nick Myers and Aaron Rockers (AV Web-Pro)
Design: Christian Ericson and Brian Lynch
Produced by Brian Lynch
Review:
Brian Lynch’s Unsung Heroes honors the legacies of 10 underrated trumpet players. The series is more than a tribute; it’s an effort to preserve and perpetuate the bop legacy. Lynch, who performed and recorded in the final edition of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, exhibits a full sound, good range and a bop-inspired style. Unsung Heroes features his peers and proteges performing a trove of obscure compositions. The opener, Joe Gordon’s “Terra Firma Irma,” closely resembles Donald Byrd’s “Jeannine,” albeit with a distinct turnaround of descending chords—Lynch and his sidemen take full advantage. Lynch is also in fine form on his tune “Further Arrivals.” His intense solo on Tommy Turrentine’s “Big Red” provides a nice contrast to the track’s relaxed swing. But the album isn’t just about Lynch. Veteran alto player Vincent Herring and tenor player Alex Hoffman also pitch in. So does pianist Rob Schneiderman, an unheralded veteran whose resume includes work with J.J. Johnson and Art Farmer. The set closes with a fast reading of Louis Smith’s challenging “Wetu.” While releases like Unsung Heroes appear with some frequency, few sound as accomplished or exuberant.
Eric Fine (DownBeat)
