| Jazz |
Remember last year I was telling you about the trombonist Michael Dease regarding the release of his album The Over Shoe: The Music of Gregg Hill, but we probably need to now recognize Michael Dease’s dexterity in moving from one instrument to another, since this time we find him on the baritone saxophone, paying tribute to trumpeter Roy Hargrove, alongside a group of excellent artists: Michael Dease on baritone saxophone, Alex Acuna on percussion, Terell Stafford on trumpet, the wonderful Jocelyne Gould lending her voice, Bill Cunliffe on piano, Rodney Whitaker on bass, and Ulysses Owens Jr. on drums. It takes an extraordinary talent to enter the world of great artists like Roy Hargrove without falling into mere imitation. Here, as on Michael Dease’s previous album, there is a real vision that blends the classical form with a more contemporary touch, and it’s absolutely delightful! Not to mention that among the 2024 dates was a performance with the great Christian McBride, a sign that Dease’s talent is well-known in the jazz world. In addition to Christian McBride, Michael Dease has shared the stage with artists as diverse as David Sanborn, Michel Camilo, and Alicia Keys. Born in Augusta, Georgia, he played the saxophone and trumpet before choosing the trombone at the age of 17.
Fascinating and visionary, with a focus on the future, you can particularly feel this in his version of “Minor Funk,” where you will hear the most beautiful baritone saxophone solo from Dease, as impressive on this instrument as he is on the trombone. Every track in Michael Dease’s version seems to sketch out a landscape, drawing us into a different world. It’s a real pleasure to listen to this album, which sounds like a live album. Knowing that Dease loves to spend every possible minute with his extraordinary wife, Gwendolyn Dease, a percussion professor at MSU, we understand how he approaches rhythms in his albums. And here and there, the lovely voice of Jocelyn Gould softens the atmosphere with a version of “Never Let Me Go,” more syrupy than you could imagine, making you forget the technicality of her art through a masterful performance. Michael Dease once again works wonders on the baritone saxophone. Until now, I only knew one person in the world capable of putting so much emotion into the sound of their baritone, my friend Céline Bonacina…
Then we gently arrive at track 8—bebop, here we are!—with the truly fascinating groove of “Father Figure.” What a beautiful world Dease creates, sliding in gorgeous arrangements—not over the top, just the right amount, exactly where it’s needed. We ask for nothing more. A truly fine album that makes us forget the very bad James album, which was the previous release from this label. Michael Dease once again wins our favor and ends up on our “Essentials” list.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, August 19th 2024
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