Erik Jekabson Sextet III: One Note At A Time

San Francisco Bay area musician/composer/arranger/educator Erik Jekabson is a trumpet player and leader of his bands; the Erik Jekabson Sextet III, the Electric Squeezebox Orchestra and the String-tet. He is also an educator at the California Jazz Conservatory so as you can see his resume is quite vast. He has eight solo CDs as a band leader, his latest being One Note At A Time released this past January.

Jekabson and his band really pull it together and bring on the heat in the album opening “Days Of Haze� with its steadily rousing up-tempo rhythm section giving the soloists (fine trumpet and sax work) room to do their thing. Colourful and vibrant are a couple of words that came to mind while listening. Next is “Dusk�, a tune much slower and insightful where the playing is more subdued and the trumpet and sax work is really quite beautiful. Each note is easily heard as the sax and trumpet slowly entwine in a languid dance and the mood and feeling is more serene and reflective. With “Brother Todd� the mood is much more chill, a bit of blues here as well as a slightly sly and funky groove is laid down amidst a bed of hazy trumpet notes. More wonderful solo spots (sax, trumpet and guitar) weave their magic. These musicians are outstanding players, including fabulous drums and percussion keeping the music energized. Those are the first three tracks, the next six are just as noteworthy, not one dud in the bunch.

If you are at all into modern jazz where the melodies are finely crafted and the playing is exemplary you really should give One Note At A Time your undo care and attention. A highly recommended release from Wide Hive Records.

Musicians:
Erik Jekabson (trumpet and flugelhorn)
Dave Ellis (tenor and soprano saxophone)
Dave Mac Nab (guitar)
John Wiitala (bass)
David Flores (drums)
John Santos (congas and percussion)
Avotcja (vocal and poetry on track #5)
Mads Tolling (violin on track #5)
Alisa Rose (violin on track #5)

Track Listing:
1. Days Of Haze (7:46)
2. Dusk (7:42)
3. Brother Todd (5:15)
4. Bell Song (5:00)
5. One Note At A Time (I Cry Creativity) (8:38)
6. Full House (5:58)
7. The Growing Place (8:38)
8. Shaker Funk (4:38)
9. When You Went Away (6:12)

Added: February 24th 2020
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 723
Language: english

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