| Jazz |
What we know about this album: Recorded at the famous Jazz at Lincoln Center, Cannon’s latest musical project pays tribute to two giants of music: McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones, with whom Cannon proudly played for 14 and nine years, respectively. Evoking the true essence of McCoy and Elvin, Cannon’s vehicle features an exceptional ensemble of musicians who also shared the stage with these giants: pianist Dave Kikoski, drummer Lenny White, tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano, alto saxophonist Sherman Irby, trumpeter Eddie Henderson, and trombonist Steve Turre.
We find ourselves with the usual sound of the Lincoln Center, which I personally love. This venue has an acoustic peculiarity that truly highlights all the instruments, allowing the recordings to convey that live atmosphere without degrading the listening experience.
That being said, we are faced with a page of jazz history, which is strongly impressive and delightful. Over two evenings, on June 3rd and 4th, 2022, at the famous Dizzy’s Club in New York, the audience was enchanted by numerous moments of passion, grace, and soul delivered by Cannon and his esteemed bandmates. Bassist Buster Williams, who shares memorable stories with Jones, Tyner, and Willis, emphasizes in the liner notes: “… this is the quintessence of art. It’s not surprising that this is an exceptional recording. These guys know how to breathe, they know how to trust, they create freedom for each other.”
These incomparable musicians distill the tracks with a seemingly disconcerting ease on particularly complex pieces. One truly enjoys and savors the album, which undoubtedly will be considered a reference upon its release. It is true that this live recording is certainly the best choice for such music. It transcends the frozen confines of studios, although very pleasant, and presents high-quality musical dialogues, at times plunging us into a poetic form that is obsolete on the surface and laden with meaning in depth. Gerald Cannon is a bassist whom I have always appreciated—discreet, precise, bringing a unique sonorous roundness that creates a sonic landscape on which all musicians can lean.
We are here at the very essence of the Lincoln Center, ensuring transmission, which is more than honorable. This is why the editorial teams of Bayou Blue Radio and Paris-Move have effortlessly included this album in the ‘Essentials,’ without even thinking about it.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, January 3rd 2024
::::::::::::::::::::::::::