Trumpeter
Russell Gunn gained some attention for his desire to mix jazz together with hip-hop and other styles.
Blue on the D.L. however is a change of pace.
Gunn mostly sticks to hard bop on this set, exploring nine different blues-based tunes with a sextet also featuring tenor saxophonist
J.D. Allen, pianist
Orrin Evans, and guitarist
Mark Whitfield. Whether the song was composed by
Blue Mitchell,
Clifford Brown,
Charlie Parker,
Roy Hargrove,
Wynton Kelly, or
Miles Davis or whether it is a group original, the music is essentially comprised of bebop blues.
Gunn shows that he is quite comfortable in this jam session-type setting and that he could keep up with the
Hargroves and
Nicholas Paytons of his generation if that was the main intent of his career.
Blue on the D.L. is easily recommended to straight-ahead jazz collectors. ~ Scott Yanow