Want a great slice of modern, smoky jazz with a touch of the 'classy elegance' of vintage Miles Davis? Then make sure to check out this debut solo album Commitment and Change from trumpet player Dave Carter. This guy has been around the scene a while, recording with folks such as Bill Frisell, Wayne Horvitz, Skerik, Robin Holcomb, and many others, but he finally found the time to put this first solo release together, and it's a good one. He's joined here by bassist Luis Guerra, drummer Barrett Martin, and keyboard player John Rangel. The latter is the guy who holds it all together on these tunes, his tasty electric piano providing the depth for Carter to launch his melodic flights on "Pusa Lulu", and his bluesy piano vamps on "Lullaby for Hattie Bliss" are just as intoxicating as Carter's sultry trumpet lines. Much of the mood and tempo of the dozen tracks here follow a similar path, which is the one drawback, but if you don't mind being drawn into some easy going & melodic jazz with plenty of groove, then you can't go wrong with what this band presents. On instances like "Funny Is" or "5 AM", the group gets the slightest bit funky, throwing in some ethnic flavors which help break up the more straightforward pieces. All in all Commitment and Change is an enjoyable jazz set from four talented musicians, and proof that Dave Carter is a true force to be reckoned with.
Track Listing
1. Short Street 7:14
2. Pusa Lulu 6:11
3. Lullaby for Hattie Bliss 8:02
4. Skyshine 8:30
5. OK Anyway 5:04
6. Funny Is 7:09
7. 5 AM 3:57
8. Half Day 6:37
9. Lost Hours 6:50
10. Moanna 3:33
11. Nopajam 6:44
12. 7 AM 2:19
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