Trombonist and master of musical shells
Steve Turre has been playing professionally since he was 13, working with a variety of bandleaders including
Rahsaan Roland Kirk,
Ray Charles, and
Chico Hamilton, although he credits his musical maturity to his eight-year tenure with trumpeter
Woody Shaw (which began when he was in his thirties).
Turre recorded 14 albums with
Shaw and it is to Shaw's influence and memory that the album's title refers.
Turre wrote eight of the nine compositions here. The wildly diverse program includes five trumpeters --
Claudio Roditi,
Jon Faddis,
Wallace Roney, Chocolate Armenteros, and
Freddie Hendrix -- three keyboard players, four bass players (including
Buster Williams), two drummers, and three bongo, timbales, and conga percussionists.
Faddis' fiery acrobatics are heard on the title track -- a skittering, jaunty blues in G-minor -- and on "Something for Sweets" (for
Harry "Sweets" Edison), a strolling
Basie-esque blues where both
Faddis and
Turre use mutes.
Roney is showcased on "In Retrospect," a shimmering, mysterious, ethereal ballad that
Turre wrote for him, reflecting the influence of
Miles Davis on the trumpeter.
Roney also appears on "Luna," which reflects the influence of
Shaw's ambitious compositional style and use of extreme harmonic intervals on
Turre. Perhaps the most beautiful entry on the set is
Roditi's jazz-samba "Annette's for Sure," with bassist
Nilson Matta and drummer
Duduka Da Fonseca (who also plays berimbau). Together the band creates an authentic samba atmosphere that is underscored by Venezuelan pianist
Luis Perdomo and
Turre's shells. There is a killer Latin number here too in "Manny's Mambo," dedicated to
Oquendo --
Turre also spent time in Conjunto Libre. The trumpeter here is 83-year-old legend Chocolate Armenteros. Both men and pianist
Perdomo play moñas like the house is burning down, as percussionists and drummer underscore the joyous dance feel. "Adios Mi Amigo" is a Latin ballad written for
Turre's late colleague and friend, pianist
Hilton Ruiz.
Roditi's solo is achingly beautiful and is underscored by
Turre's use of the plunger mute and Andy Gonzalez's bassline. Youthful up-and-comer
Hendrix is showcased on the final two cuts here, the modal "3 for Woody," and the deep, bluesy swing of "Brother Bob."
Woody's Delight is not a mere tribute to
Shaw's influence on
Turre (though that would be enough); it displays the trombonist's wide angle and ambitious compositional and arranging skills with true flourish. The music here is all soulfully articulated and expertly performed, the album some of
Turre's finest work. ~ Thom Jurek