January 2007

Minions Dominion
By Frank A. Clark, Jazz in the City

Delfeayo Marsalis, trombone
Branford Marsalis, tenor sax
Donald Harrison, alto sax
Mulgrew Miller, piano
Edwin Livingston, bass
Eric Revis, bass
Elvin Jones, drums

This is a terrific CD. A tribute to the late Elvin Jones, it is beautifully played and wonderfully reminiscent. Delfeayo has not recorded anything under his own name for 10 years and, hence, may be unfamiliar as a player to many readers of these remarks. That should begin to change in the wake of this effort. The tunes span the gamut from contemporary bop (“Brer Rabbit” and “Minions Dominion”), to traditional (Ellington’s “Just Squeeze Me”), to a haunting Coltrane-inspired (“Lost in the Crescent”) that in this context is a tribute to Jones’ days with the Great One’s classic quartet. There is an original ballad (“If You Only Knew”) on which Delfeayo, an unabashed sentimentalist at heart, lays down some of the most beautifully restrained trombone playing I have ever heard. And a straight-ahead tribute to Jones (“Lone Warrior”) on which I would say his playing reaches a pinnacle had I not heard him play it even better live at the Blue Note earlier this month in New York. A word about the sidemen is in order.

The rhythm section, led by Jones himself, and including Mulgrew Miller on piano, is as tight as one would expect. This was one of Jones’ last recordings, and all of his gifts are in evidence. Never one for the spotlight, he nevertheless drives the group with a relentless and unerring sense of tone and timing. Branford Marsalis, and Donald Harrison both appear on the CD. Check out Branford’s playing on “Minions” and “Lost in the Crescent,” then contrast it to his own latest “Jack Baker” from “ Braggtown. If there is anyone in jazz today who plays with greater speed, technique, and control, I challenge you to name him. WOW! Needless to say, I am really impressed with this CD. I have listened to it about 20 times, and each time, I hear something new. It’s a wonderful effort, and it whets the appetite for more from this talented member of the Marsalis family.

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