Matt Lavelle is a scholar and musician who has developed a thoughtful and deep philosophy though his
blog which informs his music, whether it is with his progressive big band The 12 Houses, or smaller settings like this one. Lavelle plays trumpet, flugelhorn, alto and bass clarinets in the company of Lewis Porter on piano, Hilliard Greene on bass and Tom Cabrera on drums. The album opens with "Matt's Mode" which is a very cordial track that channels the modal music that Miles Davis made with his second great quintet. But the musicians make their own spin on that concept, with Lavelle employing a pleasing and accessible trumpet tone that he uses to solo in an imaginative manner. Porter and the rest of the rhythm team provide an excellent foundation and also make the most of their trio section. There is an unaccompanied opening for clarinet to begin "Tamir Rice" which is dedicated to a young man who tragically died at the hands of the police in 2014. Lavelle pays tribute with an unhurried and emotional clarinet feature which is played with subtle grace. The track opens up after a few minutes with thoughtful rhythmic statements and raw sounding reed giving the music a spiritual vibe. The piano, bass and drums develop a deep groove, which the clarinet joins with them to conclude the performance. "Matt Bop" has a punchy medium-up tempo with Lavelle's trumpet stating a bright and shining theme. He breaks fee for a pleasant solo spot, framed by rippling piano and percussion and strong elastic bass, and everything comes together with tight in the moment modern jazz. A bouncy section for the rhythm team follows before the tune is taken out with exchanges between trumpet and piano. The lengthy "No More Shootings" is the centerpiece of the album, with stoic bowed bass and mournful clarinet stating the theme. Spiritual sounding piano sends rays of hope that lights the darkness and rains down like a sudden cleansing shower. Hollow ringing clarinet gains intensity and reaches a swirling potency leading the band into a free collective improvisation. "Fear Has Got To Go" has tight trumpet and rhythm setting a march like feel. The piano, bass and drums develop a gently swinging statement, tinged with earthy blues. When the trumpet reenters, the music grows to a fine full band interplay, making no-frills hard bop. The concluding piece, "For Taps," opens with rich sounding bass clarinet solo in open space, walking the path that Eric Dolphy paved, accompanied by amiable piano and bowed bass. The music coalesces into a balanced swing and a delightful conversational approach building up to lengthy solo sections that are devoted and energetic. This was an excellent album and shouldn't be missed. Matt Lavelle and the group draw from the length and breadth of jazz history to create powerful and consistently interesting music.
Matt Lavelle Quartet - bandcamp.com.
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