WYNTON MARSALIS SCORES AGAIN!

Over the years, Wynton Marsalis has moved from being the "wonderkid on the block" to being one of the most influential trumpet players of all time. When he first became noticed, he was the ripe old age of 19 with the release of his first album, "All American Hero" in 1980. Since then he has recorded over 30 albums as leader and brought several other young lions into the jazz world.

As the "All Music Guide to Jazz" points out, it was unusual for a talented young black musician to turn to jazz as his main music instead of rock, funk or R & B. Of course, Wynton had a tremendous family background in jazz with his father, Ellis, being an accomplished player and teacher of jazz. His slightly older brother, Branford, also followed in the jazz footsteps as did many younger brothers.

The excellent liner notes for this album by noted jazz historian and critic Stanley Crouch are educational in themselves. The House of Tribes in a very small club which seats about 50 people. It's located in New York's lower East side, in a part of Manhattan where jazz, poetry, and theatre have been presented for years. Crouch points out that the room is small but excellent for acoustics and that the audience is comprised of true jazz fans. Marsalis is described by Crouch as "being like all great jazz musicians,...from the people and that he brings the message of the people, which is the fundamental good news of life. That is the optimism that defines the struggle at the center of the blues, the universal desire to meet dreams in the temporary forms of flesh and blood, or to present the sorrows and revelations of life as one has known them."

Joining Wynton on the album are:

Wessell "Warmdaddy" Anderson, a gifted young alto sax player

Eric Lewis, a gifted young pianist

Kengo Nakamura, ditto on the bass

Joe Farnsworth, fine young drummer

There are only six songs on the disc but four of them are over 10 minutes long and all of the music displays Wynton's musical genius. Here's my take on the songs:

1. GREEN CHIMNEYS--Thelonius Monk 15:49

As befits the complex music of Monk, Wynton and the band start this one off with an amazing repeated riff which hints at the melody. Wynton then plays in a lower register with only Nakamura's bass as company. Farnsworth hits a few rim shots. Wynton tone is beautiful and displays a full understanding of the concept of blues. As the audience applauds, the tempo picks up and Lewis joins in on piano. Wynton moves up the musical scale to the point that his horn is screaming but he casually revisits the lower register as he improvises in and around the theme. Marsalis, who is also a wonderful classical musician, explores a variety of tempos and honking sounds in his protracted first solo before yielding to Anderson who Crouch states is "startlingly original on the alto" on this recording. Warmdaddy he is as his interpretation shows, as Wynton points out that "Wes has heavy soul. It goes deep but it's also buoyant, and he loves to swing all night."

Lewis takes the next solo on piano and shows that he belongs in the class of piano players that Wynton has featured (Kenny Kirkland, Marcus Roberts, and Eric Reed). Once again, the originality of his solo and his deep feeling for the blues is astounding. All in all, the first song is almost 16 minutes of pure musical joy.

2. JUST FRIENDS--J. Klenner/S. Lewis 17:46

Contrasting strongly with the upbeat tempo of the first songs, Wynton and the rhythm section introduce this fine standard at a slow tempo which emphasizes the beauty of the melody. One of the reasons I love doing my radio show on our NPR station is that I can play 18 minute songs like this without interruption. Once again, Wynton's tone, breath control and clarity are beyond normal human ability. At one particularly gorgeous part of his solo, we here one of the other musicians emit a quiet "um." "Um", indeed. Anderson then brings his soulfully sweet alto sound onto the scene and he and Lewis play some call and response on sax and piano.

I've heard this song numerous times but I don't believe I've ever heard it played this beautifully.

3. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS--G.Paul/D.Raye 12:13

Wynton and the group perform this old classic with a true understanding of the lyrics and the melody. Played to perfection with the heartbreak of one who is sharing his feelings with a lost lover, this is another incredibly beautiful piece of work.

4. DONNA LEE--Charlie Parker 6:47

I think Dizzy and Charlie would have loved to hear this re-creation of their earlier classic. Wynton and Anderson play the roles of the two musical giants with swinging force.

The last two songs on the album are equally great:

WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE-Porter 10:27

2ND LINE--Barbarin 3:55

For a full understanding of how great Wynton Marsalis is, this album is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. FIVE STARTS