| Jazz |
Rightly so, current jazz fans are all in admiration of Emmet Cohen, but this time Emmet invites you to also discover the artist he admires most, namely, Michael Funmi Ononaiye, the iconic Vibe Provider… And so, works by both this artist and Emmet Cohen intertwine on this album. Surrounding Emmet Cohen are Bruce Harris (trumpet), Tivon Pennicott (tenor saxophone), Frank Lacy (trombone), Cecily Petrarca (koshkah), Philip Norris (double bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums), and Kyle Poole (drums, producer). Faced with such a prestigious team of musicians and considering the exceptional quality of the result, one is left speechless! It must be said that the Mack Avenue label knows how to choose its artists, and I challenge you to find a single one of them, from the most well-known to the least known, who is not an exceptional artist, whereas in many record labels you often find artists of varying quality.
I admit that when it comes to Emmet Cohen, I savor in advance just the idea of an album release. In this case, elegance is added to beauty, whether in the compositions, the arrangement of the tracks, or the performances, each musician working here like a group of architects in search of the golden point and succeeding in the feat of structuring around it—what a beautiful edifice, isn’t it? This excellence of Emmet Cohen can certainly be attributed to his experience of playing with some of the greatest current jazz artists, including Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Jimmy Cobb, George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Houston Person, Christian McBride, and Kurt Elling. For to play and literally live the music he interprets with such skill, one must have experienced and lived through many things.
As jazz is his passion, it is only natural that Emmet Cohen commits himself to the intergenerational transmission of jazz knowledge, history, and traditions. His flagship professional project is the ‘Masters Legacy Series,’ a collection of albums and interviews celebrating legendary jazz musicians. He is both the producer and pianist of each album in the series.
This knowledge is evident in his playing and interpretation. If you listen closely to his way of playing, it is clear that Emmet Cohen borrows a bit from all the great pianists who have shaped the history of jazz, both the oldest and the most contemporary, which is perfectly audible on this album that seems to be a much greater tribute than just to his friend. Emmet breathes and lives jazz, and you have likely, like me, appreciated during the 2020 pandemic his ‘Live From Emmet’s Place,’ a series of weekly performances by his trio and special guests, broadcast live from his apartment in New York, reminiscent of the dance parties of Harlem of yesteryear. These concerts, which have garnered millions of views on the internet worldwide, stand out for their sophisticated production values, setting a new standard for live jazz performances online. Cohen also created the ‘Emmet Cohen Exclusive’ subscription program, offering subscribers access to unreleased concert recordings and other creative offerings, including Cohen’s personal commentary and observations. This membership allows fans to strengthen their relationship with Cohen and his colleagues, further explore the genre, and contribute to the preservation of jazz heritage.
Still, this album *Vibe Provider* made us resonate. We love in Emmet what we find in artists like Christian McBride or the Marsalis Family—this educational approach that bridges the old and the new without any distinction. Because, as you surely understand, Bayou Blue Radio also has a fundamental educational mission, this album naturally falls into our category of “Essential” albums.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, August 16th 2024
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