Trumpeter and composer Tom Harrell has a very full discography, beginning with his recording debut as a member of the Stan Kenton orchestra in 1969. He made his first album as a leader in 1976, and he has recorded steadily since then. His latest is Alternate Summer, with a new batch of tunes to intrigue and inspire his stellar cast of musicians. The rhythm section of Luis Perdomo on keyboards, Ugonna Okegwo on bass, and Adam Cruz on drums has been with him for a few years. For this outing, he’s brought in two of the most prominent and stimulating tenor saxophonists of the day, Dayna Stephens and Mark Turner, as well as the accomplished guitarist Charles Altura on four tracks. Harrell’s exceedingly lovely and burnished trumpet sound is intact as he nears 80 years young. The groove is paramount in his compositions, a lesson no doubt learned in his tenure with Horace Silver from 1975-1979. Highlights of the disc include the funky UV with Perdomo on soulful organ, the mellow Heliotrope with its enticingly poised trumpet solo and delicate acoustic guitar from Altura, the dramatic Plateau with inspired solos by Stephens and Perdomo, and the lengthy and inventive Wind with its sinuous Turner solo. And a shout-out to Okegwo and Cruz, a most adaptable and dynamic bass and drums duo that provides the lift that Harrell’s music thrives upon. Alternate Summer is an hour of sheer delight, and one of the best albums of the year.
HighNote HCD 7344; Tom Harrell (tpt) Dayna Stephens (ts on 4-6,8) Mark Turner (ts on 1-3,9-10) Luis Perdomo (p on 4,6-10; Fender Rhodes el p on 1-3; B-3 org on 5) Charles Altura (ac & elec g on 2,3,5,7) Ugonna Okegwo (b) Adam Cruz (d); NYC, November 28 & December 27, 2022; 1.Miramar/ 2.Peanut/ 3.Alternate Summer/ 4.Intermezzo/ 5.UV/ 6.Chalcedon/ 7.Heliotrope/ 8.Plateau/ 9.Wind/ 10.Radius; 59:52. www.jazzdepot.com
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