| Jazz |
This is an album that is bound to make an impression. Indeed, Sharel Cassity, already a distinguished saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer, unveils Gratitude, a release poised to carve its place in the annals of jazz history. She is joined here by a formidable rhythm section, featuring none other than the eight-time Grammy Award-winning bassist and composer Christian McBride, the masterful drummer Lewis Nash, and the virtuosic pianist Cyrus Chestnut. Augmenting this stellar ensemble are trumpet luminary Terell Stafford and trombonist Michael Dease, Cassity’s longtime collaborator. Brimming with boundless energy and an unwaveringly optimistic spirit, Gratitude breathes fresh life into both Cassity’s artistic vision and the dynamic synergy of this eminent rhythm section.
Many of the artists who have called upon her talents, some of whom are frequent voices on Bayou Blue Radio—are nothing short of legends: Aretha Franklin, Vanessa Williams, Grammy-winning vocalist Jennifer Hudson, and singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant, a Top 40 mainstay. Cassity has also shared the stage with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Roy Hargrove, among others. As a bandleader, her albums have earned critical acclaim from The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, and JazzTimes, and she has even graced the cover of DownBeat magazine. This latest offering will surely not escape the attention of the press either—for beyond its stellar lineup, the level of improvisation and the sophistication of its arrangements are nothing short of breathtaking.
This is not Cassity’s first collaboration with Nash and Chestnut, both of whom appeared on her 2014 album Manhattan Romance, released on Venus Records alongside bassist Rufus Reid. She also performed with McBride during a 2009 Aspen tour with his big band. Her first encounter with Nash dates back to a Juilliard masterclass, and she soon found herself performing with him in 2008 as part of the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band—a group she officially joined in 2009. It was within this ensemble that she also met Chestnut, who quickly became a mentor. Later, she toured Japan as part of Nash’s big band, which included Chestnut, Steve Wilson, and Terell Stafford.
Here, then, we have all the hallmarks of a truly great musical achievement: artists of the highest caliber, whose years of collaboration have forged a group with an extraordinary sense of cohesion.
It is this deep musical kinship that fuels the album’s electrifying energy and its relentless pursuit of artistry. Speaking about Gratitude, Cassity reflects: “This album is a heartfelt journey, bridging my earliest jazz influences with a profound appreciation for the present. Two fundamental aspects of jazz are community and mentorship, and I am endlessly grateful to have experienced both. The remarkable individuals from whom I have learned, with whom I have collaborated, and who have inspired me throughout my career have shaped me into the artist I am today.”
And rightly so, for Sharel Cassity has undoubtedly ascended to the ranks of the most vital artists of her generation. With Gratitude, she delivers an album so meticulously conceived, so organically realized, that it earns an undeniable place among our Indispensable selections.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, March 14th 2025
Follow PARIS-MOVE on X
::::::::::::::::::::::